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Alonso pinpoints engine hurdles after Honda brings second spec to Zandvoort
Fernando Alonso admits Aston Martin must refine Honda's new power unit after hitting immediate driveability challenges during sprint qualifying at Zandvoort.
By Ruben Smit - 2026-08-21T17:03:35.000Z - 2 min read
Aston Martin has introduced the second specification of Honda's V6 power unit at the Dutch Grand Prix, marking the Japanese manufacturer's sole in-season hardware introduction. Both Fernando Alonso and team-mate Lance Stroll have received the upgraded components as the partnership targets performance gains for the remainder of the campaign.
Despite the extra output offered by the revised power unit, the arrival of the new hardware has brought predictable complications. Paddock expectations anticipated a period of calibration, but the transition has immediately impacted how the car behaves under deceleration and through braking zones around the Zandvoort circuit.
Fernando Alonso found himself fighting for control during sprint qualifying sessions, noting that the revised engine characteristics complicate car placement. The double world champion acknowledged that keeping the machine on the racing asphalt required significant effort while engineers work to harness the increased output.
Specifically, the Spaniard pointed to difficulties in slowing the car down effectively during corner entry. These transition phases are crucial on the tight and undulating Dutch layout, where stability under braking dictates how much speed a driver can carry through the middle of a corner.
Honda and Aston Martin anticipated these friction points when scheduling the introduction of the second specification. Introducing an in-season power unit upgrade always demands compromises while software maps and energy recovery systems are adjusted to match the altered combustion profile and electrical deployment curves.
With track time at a premium during a sprint weekend, the team faces a compressed window to iron out the driveability flaws before the main competitive sessions. Engineers will lean heavily on telemetry gathered during Friday running to recalibrate the software settings and give both drivers a more predictable platform.
Alonso made it clear that additional optimisation is mandatory if the team wants to extract the full potential of Honda's latest hardware without asking the drivers to constantly fight unexpected handling traits. The focus now shifts to overnight adjustments in the garage to tame the engine's aggression before the competitive action resumes.