Honda has confirmed that a new turbocharger, introduced at the Singapore Grand Prix, did not resolve Aston Martin’s power unit lag issues. The team experienced significant driveability problems during the event. This admission comes as the Formula 1 paddock prepares for the United States Grand Prix this weekend.
At the Singapore Grand Prix on October 11, Aston Martin drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll struggled. Both cars were eliminated in Q1.
Alonso finished the race in 16th position, while Stroll retired due to a clutch issue. Max Verstappen secured victory for Red Bull, with Charles Leclerc and Kimi Antonelli completing the podium.
Aston Martin opted to make setup changes and broke parc fermé regulations, resulting in both drivers starting from the pitlane. Alonso also received a new turbocharger.
Shintaro Orihara, Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) Trackside General Manager and Chief Engineer, stated the new turbocharger aimed to mitigate lag. However, the unique circuit layout and energy situation at Marina Bay hindered its effectiveness.
Orihara noted that the team struggled with turbo lag, which caused unstable acceleration and driver discomfort. He confirmed power units were sent to Sakura, Japan, for inspection.
Despite Alonso’s belief that his turbo was ‘broken,’ Honda’s data showed no major anomaly. The component change was made based on driver feedback as a precaution.
The 2026 F1 regulations feature a 50:50 split between internal combustion and electrical power. The MGU-H has been removed, increasing reliance on the MGU-K.
The MGU-K’s output has nearly tripled to 350 kW, with energy recovery capacity up to 9 MJ per lap. However, on energy-rich tracks like Singapore, sufficient MGU-K harvesting is challenging.
This difficulty impacts engine operation load and the ability to control turbo lag effectively. Honda acknowledges the need to improve its control systems for such circuit characteristics.
Aston Martin’s 2026 season has been challenging, with the AMR26 car struggling for pace and reliability. The team was reportedly second to last in the Constructors’ Championship by August.
Chronic vibrations affected the car early in the season, and despite an upgrade package in Hungary, consistent results have been elusive. The team has reportedly shifted focus to its 2027 car.
Mike Krack, Aston Martin’s Chief Trackside Officer, discussed the ’emotional dynamics’ of performance. He highlighted the difficulty in simulating driveability issues like lag and MGU-K harvest limitations.
Honda’s power unit development was reportedly delayed by two years due to a late decision to re-enter F1 as a works supplier. This has left them playing catch-up.
Orihara confirmed Honda is preparing countermeasures for future events. He stated that current control systems are not meeting driver demands, but lessons from Singapore are being applied.
In Singapore, we introduced a new turbocharger to manage turbo lag. Still, we struggled to manage turbo lag in Singapore because of the unique track layout and also the energy situation.
The upcoming United States Grand Prix, held from October 23-25 at the Circuit of the Americas, marks a significant milestone for Honda. The manufacturer will celebrate its 500th F1 race entry.
Honda’s power units have been fully serviced in Sakura and are prepared for the demanding Austin circuit. This event begins another triple-header of races.
