Aug.23 (GMM) Honda’s heavily anticipated engine upgrade may not have delivered the step Aston Martin hoped for at Zandvoort, with drivability problems now emerging as the main weakness.
Lance Stroll was blunt after qualifying P19. “Do I feel any improvement? Not really.”
“Maybe a small step forward, but not enough. Chassis-wise, I think we’re doing pretty well. We made a big step forward in Budapest.”
“The next thing we really need to work on is drivability and power.”
Stroll says the biggest issue is inconsistency from the power unit under braking and downshifts.
“The drivability is bad, really bad,” said the Canadian. “It’s a lottery.”
“Right now, we’re just not getting consistent engine braking on corner entry, and we’re often experiencing delayed downshifts. So there are a lot of problems.”
Fernando Alonso was more encouraged by Aston Martin’s overall progress, noting that the gap to the front has shrunk dramatically across the last two races.
“In Budapest we were in Q2, and here we were a tenth of a second off,” he said. “This is also the smallest difference to the Q1 leader. Piastri was 1.3 seconds faster than us.”
“Before, we had an average difference of 4.5 seconds to the best, so we’ve improved by three seconds in two races. It’s encouraging.”
But Alonso agrees that the Honda package still needs major refinement.
“Drivability is part of the improvement we’ll see in laptimes,” said the two-time champion.
“But, unfortunately, we can’t do much more on the track. We have to hope for major changes in physics, software, or whatever is necessary. It has to come from Japan, and it won’t happen overnight.”
“Starting with Monza, we’ll have to take another step, and there are things to optimise in the package.”
Honda chief engineer Shintaro Orihara also admitted more work is required.
“We’ve taken some important steps today, but there’s still a lot to do to give the drivers the confidence they need,” he said.
“This is our main objective in the short and medium term.”
Aston Martin ambassador Pedro de la Rosa told DAZN that the immediate focus is clear.
“We need to improve the drivability of the new engine, especially under braking and downshifting.”
He also revealed another priority for Monza and Baku.
“The goal now, in the short term, is to make the car lighter and at the weight limit, which it isn’t yet, just like Williams.”
Join Grand Prix Tours in Austin, Texas for the high-energy 2026 United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. Experience nonstop action on one of Formula 1’s most exciting tracks, featuring dramatic elevation changes, thrilling overtakes, and a packed race weekend. Off the track, enjoy a festival atmosphere with live music, world-famous BBQ, and buzzing nightlife. Your Grand Prix Tours package includes a fully curated race weekend, highlighted by exclusive access to our private F1 Celebrity Talk Show, where guests gain insider insights and behind-the-scenes perspectives. With demand soaring and this event quickly becoming a modern American racing tradition, now is the time to secure your spot for an unforgettable Austin Grand Prix experience.
SHOW PACKAGES
There are motorsport events, and then there is the Indianapolis 500, the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing." Next year marks Grand Prix Tours' 42nd Indianapolis 500 tour and our decades of experience and local connections provide exclusive access that few fans ever enjoy, including police escorts on race day, a Dallara IndyCar Factory tour, Gasoline Alley and Legends Day, the Driver Introduction Ceremony, and a private dinner with former Indy driver Derek Daly. Combined with excellent hotel accommodations, seamless event planning, and Grand Prix Tours' signature service, this is far more than a race weekend; it's a once-in-a-lifetime motorsport experience. With tour spaces limited each year, we encourage you to reserve your place early for the 111th Indianapolis 500.
SHOW PACKAGES
Experience Formula 1 at its most iconic with an unforgettable trip to the 2027 Grand Prix de Monaco. Feel the excitement as the world’s best drivers race through the legendary streets of Monte Carlo, surrounded by superyachts, Mediterranean views, and the unmistakable glamour of Monaco. From incredible race viewing to carefully selected accommodations, Grand Prix Tours brings you closer to the action at one of the most prestigious and spectacular events in all of motorsport.
SHOW PACKAGES
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the ultimate test of speed, strategy, and endurance. Watch the world's top manufacturers battle for 24 nonstop hours in one of motorsport's most prestigious events. With Grand Prix Tours handling your accommodations, transfers, and ticket options, all that's left is to experience this unforgettable bucket-list race.
SHOW PACKAGES
Feel the roar of Formula 1 at its spiritual home. Silverstone is one of the fastest and most demanding circuits in the world, where brave overtakes, lightning-fast direction changes, and flat-out commitment separate the best from the rest. Combined with the electric atmosphere created by hundreds of thousands of passionate fans, the British Grand Prix delivers a race weekend unlike any other.
SHOW PACKAGES