Honda confirms Dutch GP power unit upgrade
Honda's Shintaro Orihara ends weeks of vagueness and names Zandvoort as the target race for a much-needed performance step.
Honda has finally put a date on its long-awaited engine step. The Honda Dutch GP power unit upgrade is now confirmed, with Shintaro Orihara, Honda’s trackside general manager and chief engineer, naming the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort as the clear target. For Aston Martin fans who have waited all season for good news, this is the most positive headline yet.
Honda Dutch GP power unit upgrade: what Orihara said
Orihara had previously kept things vague, but this time he was direct. “I kept saying summer, but that’s maybe the boring answer,” he said. “So, I’ll say our target is the Netherlands. So we are working hard to complete our job list to achieve bringing new power unit to the Netherlands.”
Honda’s trackside general manager has now revealed details of the upgraded power unit that it will run for the first time at Zandvoort. With the Dutch Grand Prix weekend running to a Sprint format, that means there will be no time to fix any teething problems before Sprint Qualifying on the Friday afternoon.
Orihara explained the focus of the new spec: “The new power unit is purely focused on improving performance, but we changed the combustion characteristic; we need to optimise our data setting again to optimise drivability. So now we are working to improve drivability in this power unit. And that methodology will be carried over to the new power unit to optimise setting.”
On the size of the gain, Orihara was honest but cautious: “I know the number from dyno, but I can’t disclose the number. But we are aiming to get some reasonable big step rather than bring small step. But I would say there is no magic in Formula 1. So I don’t think we’re going to catch up, let’s say, Mercedes or RBPT by one step.”
Why the Honda Dutch GP power unit upgrade matters so much
The new works partnership has had a troubled start to 2026, with Aston Martin’s cars stuck at the back of the grid and sometimes the outright slowest in the first rounds, and Honda has borne the brunt of scrutiny as severe vibrations caused driver discomfort and battery reliability issues. You can read more about Adrian Newey’s frank assessment of the situation in our piece on Aston Martin’s Hungary upgrade and Newey opening up on the 2026 crisis.
The FIA devised an upgrade scheme called ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities), which grants manufacturers additional dyno hours and cost cap allowance based on how far off the benchmark their V6 engine is. Red Bull-Ford Powertrains was deemed the benchmark after the Canadian Grand Prix, with Honda one of several manufacturers over 4% behind on V6 power.
Honda confirmed that only one major upgrade will be introduced around the mid-season break, deliberately leaving the second token unused this year. Orihara emphasized that Honda’s strategy focuses on delivering a meaningful performance gain rather than rushing smaller incremental improvements.
Honda vs the rest: a different strategy
This measured approach contrasts with rivals such as Audi and Ferrari, who have already rolled out their initial ADUO upgrades earlier in the season. Orihara emphasised that each manufacturer pursues its own strategy, and Honda remains confident in its plan.
Honda has divided its engineering teams at the Sakura facility in Japan: one team is developing the mid-season upgrade, while another is already working on a more competitive power unit for next year’s campaign. For context on how the upgrade arms race is shaking up the whole grid, see our article on Newey slamming Aston Martin’s 2026 project.
What about Aston Martin’s chassis upgrade?
Adrian Newey confirmed earlier this week that Aston Martin will bring a major chassis upgrade to the Hungarian Grand Prix, the weekend before the shutdown, meaning the two upgrades can be judged separately.
The new power unit is expected to coincide roughly with a significant aero upgrade from Aston Martin, though chief trackside engineer Mike Krack said the engine and car upgrades will arrive whenever each has been signed off. “I think they are not depending on each other,” Krack said. “Everyone is flat out because we want to get the maximum out of it. So you always push the deadlines as much as you can and we will bring it as soon as it is ready.”
Is this the turning point Aston Martin needs?
Orihara is already thinking beyond Zandvoort: “The performance development is step by step. So the Netherlands is the first step to bring some reasonable step, but we need another further step in the future to catch up with the top competitors.”
The Honda Dutch GP power unit upgrade is not a magic fix. Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe told Formula 1: “It will not dramatically change the situation overnight.” But after a bruising first half of the season, even a solid step forward at Zandvoort would lift the mood inside the Aston Martin garage enormously. Keep an eye on the official Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix page for the full weekend schedule and session times.
For all the latest on Aston Martin’s recovery, don’t miss our full breakdown of Newey’s Hungary upgrade reveal and his thoughts on keeping Alonso. This story is only just getting started.
