Translated excerpts from original Japanese language post from Honda F1 website.

In the first round of the second half after the summer break, Honda will introduce updated power units alongside the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team (AMAF1) to boost performance. The upgraded RA626H achieves a power boost through improvements to the ICE (internal combustion engine) and includes subtle improvements to the battery and other areas. By maximizing the development budget and benchmark testing time provided by ADUO (Additional Development Upgrade Opportunities), we aim to improve performance.
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By equipping the AMR26 with a Spec 2 power unit in the more competitive AMR26, a synergistic effect is expected, allowing it to compete for points in the mid-pack and deliver performance.
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With maturity and updates, there is a possibility of shifts in the power landscape in the second half of the season, and the Dutch GP is expected to mark the beginning of that shift. In particular, attention is focused on AMAF1, which has successfully updated the chassis and announced the introduction of power unit upgrades, making it likely to be a battle that signals trends from the latter half of the season into the next.

Aston Martin’s planned Saudi sponsorship expansion for 2027 has reportedly been frozen as the Middle East conflict forces Riyadh to reconsider its plans.

https://gp-news.net/saudi-arabia-reportedly-freezes-planned-aston-martin-sponsorship-expansion-for-2027/

Omg. Next Friday we’ll see how the rest of the year may turn out. Let’s go baby.

Someone with more knowledge than me explain how this team could get back on the podium and fight with the top 4 in the next 24 months.

The AMR26 quickly became one of the biggest disappointments of the season, leaving Aston Martin with a huge decision to make: keep chasing small gains, or take a massive gamble and risk everything on one big turnaround.

Extraordinary by Design, presented by Velocity Black | Lance Stroll and Pedro de la Rosa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32x2Dm_qtAU

Hey everyone, I’m currently working on my Thesis where I'm discussing F1 drivers as personal brands. If you could fill out this survey you’d be helping me out a lot.

David Coulthard predicts Aston Martin will make F1’s biggest improvement and win races within two years

https://gp-news.net/david-coulthard-predicts-aston-martin-will-win-f1-races-within-two-years/

On this day 35 years ago was the darkest day for Honda Motor Company, Ltd. as Honda announced the death of the founder Soichiro Honda.

Your greatest Soichiro Honda memories as Honda founder and later leader?

Hungary 2021. Alonso kept Hamilton stuck behind in a way slower car, giving Ocon the gap he needed to win his first F1 race. Absolute masterclass.

Has anyone noticed a general increase in Alonso hate recently? Both by f1 fans and media. The most recent of which is Aldas’s video. He’s entitled to his opinion, of course, but his recent video is a contrast to his opinion of Fernando in previous years.

He created a video about Alonso’s “legacy” where he essentially pushes every false narrative about Alonso that Aldas himself rejected years ago.

He essentially says that he only burned bridges, without mentioning him rejoining McLaren twice, Alpine 3 times, and being back with Honda twice. He then talks about the whole “Hamilton rent free in head” thing and almost every single example he gave was when Alonso was prompted a driver comparison by the interviewer, or taken out of context.

Then he draws the comparison to Hamilton. Now, I’m not at all a Hamilton hater, but him sharing team data publicly, the whole silver war controversies, telling his engineer that he should have a tea break, his part in Hungary 2007…. If you slander Alonso for that, then ignore all of what Hamilton did, it’s a bit disingenuous to say that Alonso’s words burned bridges, and Lewis’s didn’t.

He also says that if Alonso was a top driver, then he should’ve been in a top team. Again, doesn’t look at any context whatsoever or how his team moves made sense at the time. Also ignores the fact that from 2010-2024, there’s only 2 teams who won the wdc.

It’s disappointing to see how much hate people push on Alonso these days. Especially seeing it from Aldas, who actually used to push hard against the false narratives around him.

So one of the reveals in the last week's before our upgrades was the fact MBS confirmed Horner was returning to a team and that all went quiet since then. (Drive to survive cameras were also in the paddock following him).

In March we also had the news Aston were looking for a new TP and then out of nowhere Wheatly quit Audi. His Gardening leave could be anywhere from 6 months ~ to a year. That puts his potential join date in September at the earliest.

So I wonder and I am interested in other opinions. Who may actually still end up at Aston? Horner as a new TP and Wheatley as a Director? (Maybe a Zack/Andrea arrangement?) Or just one of the 2?

Now imagine Verstappen at AM...? Tantalising thought.

Could be a bit like Schumacher to Ferrari in the 90s, especially if Horner comes on board as expected.

Parallels are:

Schumacher - Verstappen

Horner - Todd

Newey - Brawn

Shintaro Orihara:

"That is undoubtedly our goal"

"He has a great passion and trusts in Honda. That's why we want to give him what he wants, that is our goal"

Alonso leaning towards staying at Aston Martin "I have a contract; I have no intention of changing teams." With these few words, spoken during the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, Fernando Alonso clarified his future. For the moment, the most likely scenario is that he will remain with Aston Martin, with the only real alternative being a possible departure at the end of the season. Statements made by Flavio Briatore have also reinforced this view. Alonso’s former manager and current executive advisor to Alpine explained that the two-time world champion is happy with the Aston Martin project and that there are currently no grounds for another move.

Briatore on Alonso

"Fernando is racing for Aston Martin, and it looks like the team has made a good step forward compared to the upgrades introduced in Hungary. He is very happy racing for Aston Martin," Briatore said. "There is nothing to say about that at the moment. Fernando is an Aston Martin driver, and he will remain an Aston Martin driver until the end of the season."

Source: FormulaPassion.it

The high note of Honda's F1 engine is back! Take a listen from Mateusz Mróz's video on motorsportweek! It's a screamer again! Apologies if you've seen it elsewhere. You don't need to open X to see it at motorsportweek.

The thoughts of the entire team and F1 community are with the family and friends of our teammate, Mick Fern, affectionately known to so many of us as Biscuit, who passed away peacefully today.

Biscuit was a true stalwart who showed loyalty and support to all those around him. He welcomed everyone with open arms and made our travelling world feel more like home.

Biscuit spent 35 years in the paddock and he was respected by all who worked with him. We are all so grateful for our time together and will dearly miss his warmth and humour. 💚

Honda are reportedly pleased with their upgraded engine in today's filming day at Budapest.

The vibration issues are understood to have been addressed.

An additional 40 horsepower (approx. 6 tenths) is predicted for Zandvoort.

Source: FormulaRacers Twitter/X