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Honda uncovers hidden engine issues behind Aston Martin’s Bahrain horror show

by sports••0
Honda uncovers hidden engine issues behind Aston Martin’s Bahrain horror show
Honda chief Ikuo Takeishi has outlined the challenges with the power unit supplied to the Aston Martin F1 team.

“Vibrations are causing problems with the battery.”

– Ikuo Takeishi 

The Managing Director, who spoke at the Honda press briefing where the company addressed its Formula 1 activities, detailed the severe nature of the issues encountered by the Japanese engine manufacturer during two weeks of testing at the Bahrain International Circuit.

“We believe the results of the pre-season tests are extremely serious and severe. HRC Sakura’s engineers and on-site staff are making considerable efforts to improve the situation and are working as quickly as possible to make improvements in preparation for the opening race,” Takeishi said.

Fernando Alonso driving the Aston Martin AMR26 in Bahrain – Photo: Race Pictures

Touching further on the problems plaguing its power unit, he continued:

“Vibrations are causing problems with the battery, and not necessarily damage to the battery itself.”

Takeishi, however, spoke about the possibility of finding a fix for the issues, stressing that Honda, in collaboration with Aston Martin engineers at the team base in Sakura, is now focused on resolving the power unit problems.

“We want to suppress the vibration so that we can at least be in the running for the opening race and the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit,” he concluded.

The Aston Martin team endured a challenging pre-season outing in Bahrain, completing the fewest laps on the grid and having to bring its testing to an early close after detecting issues with its engine.

Alonso confident Aston Martin issues can be resolved

Earlier, two-time world champion Fernando Alonso expressed confidence that the power unit problems would be resolved before the start of the season at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

The Spaniard detailed his optimism about progress being made and hoped that any further issues encountered as the season unfolds would be addressed effectively.