Honda has finally cracked open the door on what it describes as the “secret” changes hidden inside its new-spec Formula 1 power unit.
The Japanese manufacturer has offered a tantalising glimpse of the combustion tweaks, piston redesigns and friction-reduction measures that will debut on Aston Martin’s car at Zandvoort after the summer break.
When Formula 1 returns for the Dutch Grand Prix later this month, Aston’s challenger will carry the first significant evolution of Honda’s new-generation engine package, a development that could provide the clearest indication yet of whether the partnership is beginning to turn a corner after a difficult first season together.
It’s a timely upgrade for Aston Martin which implemented a substantial chassis upgrade on its AMR26 that delivered a noticeable step forward, and Honda is now attempting to add its own layer of performance.
The combustion 'secret' Honda is willing to share
Honda chief F1 engineer Shintaro Orihara spoke with unusual openness about the project, while making it clear that much remains under wraps.
“We focused to improve engine performance, to make combustion faster,” he explained.
Then came the tantalising admission.
“So it’s kind of a secret, but I can disclose a little bit. We changed the pre-chamber to make combustion faster, and we also changed the piston shape to get good combustion,” he added.
“We modified some lubrication system to reduce friction. We had quite a big list to improve engine performance.”
In Formula 1 terms, that is more than a minor tweak. Faster combustion can improve efficiency and responsiveness, revised piston geometry can influence how effectively the fuel-air mixture burns, and reduced friction can unlock performance that would otherwise be lost inside the engine itself.
Honda is effectively saying that this is not a cosmetic update. It is a broad internal rethink.
The number Honda will not reveal
The obvious question is how much power the new unit will deliver. On that point, Honda remains deliberately evasive.
“I can’t disclose the detailed number, but we have achieved our internal target,” Orihara said.
That sentence may be the most revealing of all. In Formula 1, manufacturers rarely volunteer that a target has been met unless they believe the result is meaningful.
Orihara also offered a rare public endorsement of the work carried out at Honda’s Sakura facility.
“I’m confident in what the HRC Sakura factory guys achieved for the spec two engine,” he said. “We are excited to bring a new spec engine to the Netherlands, and we will see where we are.”
Read also: Chasing ghosts? Honda sets astonishing Alonso target
That final line captures the mood perfectly. Honda has partially lifted the veil, revealing faster combustion, redesigned pistons and reduced friction.
What it has not revealed is the one figure everyone in the paddock wants to know: how much quicker Aston Martin will be when the lights go out at Zandvoort.
The answer is still hidden inside the engine. But after months of struggle, Honda has made one thing clear – it believes the next chapter of its Aston Martin partnership starts now.
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