Speculation has swept the Formula 1 paddock this week over a rumoured 50 horsepower gain from Honda’s new specification power unit, set to debut with Aston Martin at Zandvoort. But Honda’s trackside chief has moved to dampen the excitement.
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Shintaro Orihara, Honda Racing Corporation’s trackside general manager, told reporters the figure was “not the real number,” while stopping short of a flat denial. His careful phrasing — acknowledging he “would like” the number to be true — suggests the actual gain is smaller, though still meaningful.
Where the Rumour Started
The 50 horsepower claim followed Wednesday filming-day running at the Hungaroring, where Aston Martin’s revised chassis had already delivered a breakthrough — Fernando Alonso’s first Q2 appearance of 2026. With the chassis clearly working, attention has shifted to the engine as the team’s next performance frontier.
What Comes Next
Analysts now put the realistic gain between 20 and 35 horsepower — enough to lift Aston Martin into contention with Racing Bulls, Audi and Alpine, though not into the sport’s top tier. Zandvoort’s mixed-load layout won’t fully expose the truth; that verdict will come at Monza, where raw power is laid bare.
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Formula 1, Honda, Aston Martin, F1 2026, Zandvoort, Adrian Newey, Lance Stroll, Power Unit
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