Honda believes the Monaco Grand Prix could represent a significant opportunity for Aston Martin to rebound in the 2026 Formula One season. Following a start to the campaign marked by reliability issues, the Japanese manufacturer has set clear objectives to try to extract maximum performance from the package this coming weekend.
That partnership between Honda and Aston Martin has had a rough start since the AMR26 debuted this year. Failures and problems involving the power unit contributed to five retirements shared between Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll in the first five races of the championship.
The current outlook mirrors these difficulties. The team sits at the bottom of the constructors’ standings, even behind the Cadillac rookie. Yet, the characteristics of the Monaco circuit offer a chance to pursue a more competitive result, on a track where top speed is less of a factor.
Shintaro Orihara, track general manager and chief engineer at Honda, highlighted that preparation for Monaco requires a specialized approach. According to him, the manufacturer carried out special simulation sessions at the Aston Martin technology center to refine energy-management settings.
“Monaco Circuit is very unique, and our power units require dedicated preparation to adapt to the conditions. We conducted specific simulator sessions with the drivers at the AMR Technology Campus to optimize the energy-management adjustments,” Orihara stated.
Another critical point identified by Honda is the cooling system. According to the Japanese engineer, the low average speeds on the street circuit create additional challenges for cooling the components, necessitating a joint effort between the manufacturer and the team to find the optimal setup both on a free track and in heavy traffic conditions.
Orihara also underscored the importance of the three free practice sessions available over the weekend: “It is crucial to optimize energy management and track usage during these sessions,” he said. The executive also highlighted that driver feedback will be essential for the adjustments needed throughout the event.
He continued: “Driver feedback will be key, because energy management has a significant impact on drivability,” he added.
Therefore, Honda views drivability as one of the main factors for achieving a positive result: “Monaco has many slow corners, so it is essential to maximize drivability to give the drivers the greatest possible confidence. We can gain lap time through drivability here,” Orihara concluded, pointing to the manufacturer’s focus on the challenge on the streets of the Principality.
