Honda Racing boss Yasuharu Watanabe has admitted that “things cannot remain the same” after a difficult start to the partnership between Aston Martin and Honda.
Watanabe revealed that he now holds daily meetings with Aston Martin team principal Adrian Newey, as well as twice-weekly discussions with team owner Lawrence Stroll, as efforts continue to resolve the early issues. However, he stressed that the collaboration between the two organisations must be strengthened moving forward.
Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe is also closely involved and is fully aware of the seriousness of the situation. After attending the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, Mibe arranged meetings with both Honda and Aston Martin personnel and held discussions with Stroll about the challenges facing the project.
According to Watanabe, Mibe had already been briefed on the situation following a press conference in Tokyo on February 27. As an engineer himself, he offered encouragement and technical insights, urging the team to improve performance as quickly as possible.
The alliance has already faced problems during pre-season testing in Bahrain, where Honda discovered “abnormal vibrations.” The manufacturer arrived in Melbourne believing a solution had been found, but concerns remained. Adrian Newey said that drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll experienced severe vibrations during long runs, raising fears of potential nerve damage after completing 25 and 15 consecutive laps respectively.
Fernando Alonso told PlanetF1.com and other media after the race that Honda believes the vibrations affecting the battery have been reduced since the Bahrain test thanks to several modifications. However, the issue has not yet been fully resolved on the chassis side, as the battery still needs better isolation.
“I think Honda thinks the vibrations on the battery are really reduced since Bahrain with some of the modifications, but that didn’t happen to the chassis yet because they need to isolate the battery in a different way,” Alonso said.
“I think it will take a little bit more time, but we try to do our best and complete as many laps as possible to help the team.”
The next race on the Formula 1 calendar is the Chinese Grand Prix this weekend, followed by Honda’s home race at Suzuka. Watanabe stressed the importance of fixing the vibration issue before the Japanese event.
“I want to ensure that vibration countermeasures are properly implemented before Suzuka and that the power unit can be used without any problems,” Watanabe said.
He added that Honda’s Sakura facility will play its role, but improving cooperation with Aston Martin’s Silverstone base will also be crucial. As head of Honda Racing, Watanabe said he intends to strengthen the organisation to improve the partnership.
Adrian Newey has also revealed that only about 30 percent of Honda’s original Formula 1 engine team remains. According to him, Aston Martin only became aware of the manufacturer’s difficulties late last year.
Despite this, Watanabe believes Honda has already significantly increased its workforce and must now determine where further improvements and authority are needed. He again emphasized the importance of deeper collaboration with Aston Martin.
Watanabe said he is in contact with Newey every day, while meetings with team owner Lawrence Stroll take place on Fridays and Saturdays.
“Things cannot remain the same,” he said.
“We must increase the speed of development, and that doesn’t only mean increasing the power of the power unit. It’s also about how we develop and progress together with the car. We want to work as one team.”