Honda will debut its Spec 2 power unit at Zandvoort this weekend, bringing Aston Martin a combustion and friction package aimed at closing the gap to Alpine and Racing Bulls in the midfield scrap. The update centers on a redesigned pre-chamber and piston geometry to accelerate burn rates, plus lubrication tweaks to cut internal losses. Trackside chief Shintaro Orihara confirmed the factory hit its horsepower targets but wouldn't name a number.
Aston Martin's 2026 season began underwater—vibration issues, poor reliability, last in the pecking order—before the team stabilized and rolled out a B-spec chassis at Hungary. The car worked; Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso out-qualified both Cadillac and Williams and finished 13th and 14th. Now comes the engine side of the equation. Alonso has called the second half a "new start," and if the Spec 2 delivers, Aston Martin could finally start banking points instead of excuses.
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