Aston Martin technical chief Adrian Newey has warned the team may struggle to finish the Australian Grand Prix after persistent vibrations from their new Honda power unit threatened both car reliability and driver safety. The problem, first seen during pre-season testing in Bahrain with Honda’s first units supplied under the 2026 partnership, was discussed by Newey and Honda executive Koji Watanabe at a Melbourne press conference.
Team engineers say the low-frequency vibration affects performance and creates a real risk of physical harm to drivers if they remain on track for long stints. Newey said Fernando Alonso feels he cannot do more than about 25 consecutive laps without risking permanent nerve damage in his hands, while Lance Stroll believes he’s limited to roughly 15 laps. “We are going to have to be very heavily restricted on how many laps we do in the race until we get on top of the source of the vibration and improve the vibration at source,” Newey said.
Watanabe confirmed Honda cannot run the power unit at full capacity while the issue persists. He said unexpected vibration in Bahrain caused damage to battery-related components and prevented the team from completing planned mileage. Honda and Aston Martin engineers are working together to develop and test multiple countermeasures.
Honda plans to introduce what it considers the most effective fixes starting this week, but Watanabe cautioned that their performance under race conditions is not guaranteed. The company has not yet identified the root cause and cannot give a timeline for when the unit will be fully competitive. “Of course, I want to hurry up, but at this moment, it’s quite difficult to say when and how,” he said.
The setback is significant for Honda, which has a record of past success in Formula 1, most notably with Red Bull. Newey nonetheless expressed confidence in Honda’s ability to improve: “Do I believe in our partners, in Honda’s ability to bring that power up and to be competitive? Absolutely. They have a proven track record and we have total faith.”
Both drivers described the sensation produced by the vibration. Stroll likened it to an electric shock felt through the seat, calling it “a very uncomfortable vibration” that harms both the engine and the occupant. Alonso reported numbness in his fingers and feet. Despite Newey’s low expectations for the race, Alonso said he hoped recent dyno work might help in FP1 and allow him to finish, while Stroll said whether they can manage more than 10–15 laps will depend on how much progress has been made since Bahrain.
The issue arrives as Formula 1 introduces its most significant power-unit changes since 2014, with increased electrical power in the system — an area where early issues were anticipated. Honda and Aston Martin said they will continue collaborating on further measures and asked for patience while technical details remain under review.