Honda's return to Formula 1 with Aston Martin has been marked by a significant gap between expectations and reality. The team has struggled with excessive vibrations and a lack of performance, despite Honda's history of producing title-winning turbo hybrid V6 engines.
According to Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe, the reasons for this mismatch are complex, involving new rules, new relationships, and new car dynamics. Watanabe notes that the team's difficulties were compounded by the loss of valuable development time after initially shutting down its F1 project.
The vibration problems have now been solved, and Honda is focusing on delivering more performance from its engine. The team is looking to improve combustion and reduce internal friction, with gains expected from an upgraded power unit provisionally slotted in for around the time of the Belgian GP.
