Fernando Alonso has expressed unwavering confidence in Honda’s ability to develop their power unit despite a challenging start to the Italian Grand Prix weekend at Monza. After a difficult Friday practice, where Aston Martin struggled with straight-line speed, Alonso remains optimistic about the progress of Honda’s engine package.
During the second practice session at Monza, Alonso finished 19th, trailing the fastest time by 2.468 seconds. The circuit’s long straights exposed the current limitations of Aston Martin’s package, particularly in terms of power unit performance. Honda’s updated power unit, which received revisions after the Dutch Grand Prix and the Budapest filming day, has yet to deliver the expected gains, especially in drivability.
Honda’s Trackside General Manager, Shintaro Orihara, confirmed that improvements have been made to the combustion characteristics of the power unit, aiming to enhance drivability. Despite these technical updates, the performance on track has not yet matched the team’s ambitions. Alonso, however, remains fully supportive of Honda’s efforts, emphasizing his “100%” trust in the manufacturer’s commitment and expertise. He highlighted that the personnel and management involved in the current project include many who contributed to Honda’s previous championship-winning efforts.
Alonso acknowledged that Aston Martin and Honda started the current regulations at a disadvantage but expects the gap to be reduced within two to three years, a shorter timeframe than the five to six years previously anticipated. The positive result at Zandvoort, where Alonso finished ninth, showed some progress, but the team recognizes that significant work remains to improve both chassis and engine performance heading into the next season.
Pedro de la Rosa, Aston Martin’s technical advisor, noted that the difficulties faced at Monza were expected given the circuit’s characteristics, which heavily favour straight-line speed. This context helps explain the team’s struggles during the practice sessions and underlines the challenges ahead in optimizing the car’s overall package.
While the power unit updates have yet to translate into immediate on-track gains, Alonso’s confidence in Honda’s capabilities reflects a belief in the long-term development plan. The reinforced team structure and experience from past successes provide a foundation for future improvements. The situation at Monza highlights the ongoing technical challenges Aston Martin and Honda face as they work to close the performance gap in the highly competitive environment of Formula 1®.