Aston Martin Formula 1 power unit partner Honda will bring only one power unit improvement this year despite having two ADUO upgrade tokens available.
Honda has decided to focus on a single engine update for the 2026 season. The upgrade is planned around the summer break, either shortly before or after the August shutdown.
Shintaro Orihara, Honda's trackside general manager and chief engineer, said the team would not pursue a second step this year. "We are planning to introduce a new engine around summer. Then I don't think we have another step in this year," he said.
The company has formed two separate engineering groups at its Sakura plant in Japan. One group works on the 2026 upgrade while the other focuses on the 2027 power unit.
Orihara noted the changes would bring reasonable progress but not miracles. The new engine is expected to arrive independently of Aston Martin's planned aero upgrade.
