Aston Martin faces the Canadian Grand Prix without the expected Honda power unit upgrade. The Japanese firm has confirmed it will not introduce performance improvements for this race, a tough blow for the team at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Its long straights and fast sections demand extra horsepower to overtake, and the British team will have to make do with the current engine specification.
Regulations allow adjustments, but Honda prioritizes reliability 🛑
Power unit development has been completely halted for this event. Although regulations permit modifications for reliability, Honda has decided not to touch the current engine. All technical resources have been redirected to the new version arriving after the mid-season break. This leaves Aston Martin with a power deficit on a track where every tenth of a second counts, especially in the braking and acceleration zones that define qualifying pace.
No extra power, only prayers to Saint Gilles 🙏
While Honda saves its best parts for after the summer, Aston Martin will have to get creative in Montreal. Without extra power for the straights, the strategy seems clear: pray for rain or hope DRS works miracles. They could also try overtaking in the slow corners, though with this engine, it might be easier to ask Fernando Alonso to do a handstand on the main straight. Reliability will be the only improvement, and well, what a consolation.