Aston Martin and Honda solve major F1 2026 reliability weakness

Honda says the battery reliability issues that plagued Aston Martin's early 2026 season are now fully resolved, allowing the team to shift focus toward performance and drivability.

Why it matters:

Aston Martin and Honda needed a reliable foundation to extract the potential of their new partnership. With the battery vibration problems solved, the team can finally unlock lap time through energy management and gearbox refinement – critical steps in climbing the midfield standings.

The Details:

• Battery shaking, caused by the power unit's interaction with the chassis, was eradicated after Honda used a spare AMR26 chassis left in Japan for further dampening optimization.
• Miami marked a turning point: both cars finished the Sprint and Grand Prix, with Fernando Alonso beating Cadillac's Sergio Perez after a race-long fight.
• Honda's Shinato Orihara confirmed: "The battery issues are now gone. We now focus on improving energy management and driveability."
• Drivability struggles: Axle locking and gear shifting issues remain, partly due to new 2026 regulations that increase engine brake loads during downshifting. Aston Martin is also making its own gearbox for the first time after switching from Mercedes-supplied units.
• Orihara says the team has a "good understanding" of the drivability problem and is working on controllability in the engine brake phase.
• Team boss Mike Krack emphasized that the gearbox topic is "challenging" but notes that progress elsewhere now allows more running, accelerating development.

What's next:

Aston Martin expects incremental performance gains over the coming months as routine upgrades are applied. Krack declined to quantify drivability improvements but stressed the team's spirit remains strong despite the rocky start. "The spirit is very good because we are honest about the situation," he said.