Honda gives sober outlook for Aston Martin ahead of Miami GP

Ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, Honda’s trackside chief Shintaro Orihara says the work done on Aston Martin’s power unit since the Japanese Grand Prix is a step in the right direction, but any gains will be hard to spot on the track. He cites vibration‑reduction testing at Sakura and new counter‑measures for Miami’s unique mix of long straights and tight corners.

Why it matters:

• Aston Martin’s championship hopes depend on a reliable, competitive power unit; even small gains matter.
• Miami’s Sprint format leaves only one 90‑minute practice, magnifying any technical shortfall.

The details:

• Post‑Japan work focused on cutting engine vibrations and a static test on the AMR26 chassis in Sakura to boost reliability.
• Orihara says the upgrades won’t deliver a noticeable lap‑time jump in Miami.
• Miami blends two long full‑throttle sections with several slow‑speed corners – the first 2026 track with that mix.
• Power‑unit priorities are drivability in the slow sector and energy management, while keeping temperatures low in the season’s first warm‑weather race.

What's next:

• Expect a conservative setup aimed at temperature control and extracting extra energy in the slow corners.
• Any reliability improvement could improve qualifying, which is crucial in a Sprint weekend.
• Honda will keep refining vibration mitigation, with the next major test at the upcoming European round.