Honda’s message that contrasts with the suffering of Alonso and Stroll: “There is an encouraging sign”
One sees the last two appointments on the calendar F1 for Aston Martin and clearly you cannot be optimistic. In Monza neither Fernando Alonso nor Lance Stroll were able to reach the halfway point of the race and in Madring the Spaniard was the penultimate of those who managed to reach the end of the race. One of the main reasons for the ordeal that the Silverstone team is experiencing is the malfunction of the Honda engine which, despite the new power unit, has not yet closed the gap with respect to the competition.
However, the message sent from the Japanese manufacturer does not match what is happening on the track. According to Shintaro Orihara, Honda’s chief executive officer and chief engineer, what has been seen in the last few races is good progress.
“We are moving in the right direction if we look at the improvements in drivability in both Monza and Madrid.. Seeing progress on a high-speed circuit like Monza and on a street circuit like Madrid is an encouraging sign. looking ahead to this weekend,” explained the Japanese in Honda’s preview for the Azerbaijan GP that takes place this weekend in Baku.
“From here, we will continue working on energy management and engine tuning, taking small steps and accumulating them to progressively improve our performance”
The next Baku event will be another huge challenge for Honda and Aston Martin. The Azerbaijan street circuit has the longest straight in the entire championship with more than 2km and, therefore, the engine will be key. That is to say, it won’t be a surprise if Alonso and Stroll suffer badly again.
“The Baku street circuit is a demanding layout for the power unit, with one of the largest areas with full throttle. In addition, the historic center area is full of narrow curves that are close to the wall, so drivability also matters,” he concluded.
