WHAT TO EXPECT FROM HONDA'S LONG-AWAITED F1 POWER UNIT UPGRADE AT ZANDVOORT

Honda will introduce its first power unit upgrade of the 2026 season at Zandvoort, focusing entirely on the internal combustion engine. Chief engineer Shintaro Orihara admits the ICE remains Honda's biggest deficit against rival manufacturers, with estimates pegging the spec-2 upgrade at up to 30 horsepower. The target isn't outright parity—it's getting back to what Honda calls the "racing field," where the tenths Aston Martin hunts each weekend actually matter.

The catch: significant combustion changes mean drivability resets. Engine behavior through corners will shift, compounded by Aston's chassis upgrades raising cornering speeds and changing power delivery demands. Honda insists it's not starting from zero—early-season lessons on optimizing drivability carry over—but the spec-2 engine requires fresh calibration work. A Hungaroring filming day with the new unit gave both parties baseline data to avoid surprises in the Netherlands. If the upgrade delivers, Aston finally has the engine to match Newey's aero gains.