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Honda Raises Alarms Over ‘Magic’ After FIA President Signals Action
Highlights
- Honda faces engine vibrations and power issues in 2026 F1 season.
- FIA President Ben Sulayem discussed potential engine assistance for Honda.
- Alonso’s F1 future uncertain amid ongoing performance challenges.
- Honda aims for small gains via calibration and durability improvements.
- Upcoming races in Azerbaijan, Bahrain, and Singapore critical for progress.
Honda has responded to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s suggestion of potential engine assistance, as Aston Martin’s 2026 package continues to underperform.
The Honda power unit suffers from severe vibrations, weak power delivery, and poor drivability, compromising Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. Alonso is weighing his 2027 plans amid persistent struggles.
Speaking in Madrid, Ben Sulayem called Alonso’s situation “not acceptable” and referenced May measures creating legal avenues for gains, outlined in the FIA ADUO ruling, which clarified permitted development routes.
He invited direct feedback from Alonso to clarify needs. Yet Honda trackside chief Shintaro Orihara downplayed prospects of rapid fixes from any regulatory intervention.
Orihara cautions there are no “magic” fixes despite potential FIA assistance.
Orihara said he does not know what changes could be permitted and stressed there are no “magic” solutions. Honda will press on with its own development pathway.
Significant hardware updates are not expected this year. Honda targets incremental gains through calibration work, while pushing durability as a parallel priority.
Honda targets small calibration gains while elevating durability as a core objective.
At the Spanish Grand Prix, the team introduced countermeasures to improve straight‑line speed. The gains were modest, but they identified directions still worth pursuing.
Spanish GP countermeasures delivered slight straight‑line improvements, guiding further work.
Upcoming rounds in Azerbaijan on September 26, Bahrain on October 4, and Singapore on October 11 offer representative tests of progress and reliability.
Ben Sulayem’s involvement signals willingness to assist, but also highlights the scale of Honda’s deficit. This sits within the FIA’s broader strategic agenda, including its historic return initiatives across governance.
Aston Martin and Honda frame 2026 as a consolidation phase. The team maintains confidence in a measured approach and ongoing trust in Honda from key stakeholders.
Visual Summary
Honda Engine Woes: Vibration & Hope
💥
Severe vibration,
low power & tricky handling hit Honda & Aston Martin hard.
Severe vibration,
low power & tricky handling hit Honda & Aston Martin hard.
🤝
FIA president Ben Sulayem:
“Not acceptable!”
Open to more assistance → but quick magic not expected.
FIA president Ben Sulayem:
“Not acceptable!”
Open to more assistance → but quick magic not expected.
🛠️
Honda’s Goal: Small calibration tweaks,
not big overhauls.
Focus: power, reliability—step by step.
Honda’s Goal: Small calibration tweaks,
not big overhauls.
Focus: power, reliability—step by step.
Improvement journey
Not there yet — but moving ahead
🔜 Next test: Azerbaijan GP Sept 26
Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.
