Intro
Aston Martin will debut an upgraded Honda engine at the Dutch Grand Prix to revive their difficult racing season.
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Formula One team Aston Martin is set to receive a powerful new Honda engine after the upcoming August summer break. The Japanese manufacturer’s trackside boss, Shintaro Orihara, confirmed that the upgraded power unit will officially debut at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort.
Aston Martin has endured a very difficult racing season so far. The team currently sits at the bottom of the constructors’ standings in tenth place, having managed to secure only a single point from the opening eight rounds of the championship. To turn their season around, the team is also planning to introduce a heavily revised car chassis at the Hungarian Grand Prix later this July.
Experts currently consider the Honda engine to be the weakest on the grid under the sport’s new power unit regulations. Orihara admitted that the manufacturers are working around the clock to hit their Netherlands target. However, he realistically noted that the team will not catch up to top rivals like Mercedes or Red Bull Powertrains in a single step.
The upcoming upgrades offer a glimmer of hope for Aston Martin’s drivers. Canadian racer Lance Stroll expressed optimism about the new aerodynamic packages and the fresh engine. Stroll, whose veteran teammate Fernando Alonso scored the team’s lonely single point, stated that he hopes these changes will finally allow them to fight for points every single weekend.