The Dutch Formula 1 Grand Prix is shaping up to be one of the season’s key events for Aston Martin. Honda will debut its new engine in Zandvoort, the one it had already tested during a filming day at the Hungaroring, and it seems promising news are incoming: the initial results from Honda have been very positive.
Shintaro Orihara, Honda’s chief engineer in Formula 1, has confirmed that in Japan the results from the Hungaroring test day matched perfectly with what they expected. For now, Orihara does not dare to speak in concrete figures, but he assures that Honda’s improvement will be purely in performance.
Honda opts not to discuss concrete improvement figures, but the engine is working
There seems to be hope for Fernando Alonso and the entire Aston Martin squad heading into the Dutch Grand Prix in two weeks. Honda intends to debut there a new engine, modified with the ADUO aids at its disposal, and that they had already put on track during a filming day at Hungaroring after the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Well, in Japan they have already analyzed the results of that test day, and smiles have appeared at the factory: Honda confirms that the data collected are exactly what they expected. It was said by Orihara, the project leader, who asserts that “we have achieved our internal objective.” In other words, Honda has found what it hoped for.
The improvement of Honda’s power unit basically rests on two parts. One in the pre-chamber, whose geometry has been altered in pursuit of a faster combustion process. The other change is in the shape of the piston, with which they aim to reduce internal friction, also by increasing lubrication.
According to Orihara, at Honda “we have a long list of improvements for the engine’s performance. We have focused on accelerating combustion and extracting more performance.” That said, the Japanese executive remains cautious and assures that “I cannot reveal figures,” in response to the question of how much the engine will improve.
Aston Martin already experienced a radical improvement at Hungaroring that allowed Alonso and Lance Stroll to battle in the midfield, though still far from the points. Having more power from the Honda engine would be the cherry on top to confirm that Adrian Newey’s project is beginning to take solid steps at the front of Formula 1.
“We are excited to present the new engine in the Netherlands and we will see how it goes,” concludes Orihara. The cards are on the table.
Images | Honda
