Honda approaches the Canadian Grand Prix with a clearly defined goal: to improve driver performance and confidence, after a difficult start to the season with Aston Martin.
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Since its return to Formula 1 as the engine supplier for Aston Martin F1 Team, Honda has experienced a challenging start to the 2026 season.
The first races were marked by reliability issues and a lack of overall performance, relegating the team to the back of the grid.
However, the Miami Grand Prix marked a slight turning point, with both cars finishing for the first time this season, an encouraging sign for what’s ahead.
Improving confidence as the top priority
For the Canadian Grand Prix, Honda has clearly identified its main objective: to improve “driveability,” meaning the ease of driving and confidence during braking and corner entry phases.
The Japanese engine manufacturer emphasizes the importance of allowing drivers to approach corners faster and maintain more speed through turns to gain time per lap.
According to Shintaro Orihara, chief engineer at Honda, this aspect is essential to unlocking overall performance.
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Montreal, a technical and strategic challenge
The Gilles Villeneuve circuit presents several particularities that complicate the engineers’ task.
With its long straights, especially the one before the final chicane, energy management becomes a decisive factor, particularly for hybrid units.
The slow corners in the first sector, combined with acceleration phases, also require great precision in power delivery.
Added to this are often changing conditions, with cool temperatures and a constant risk of rain in Montreal.
A decisive practice session in sprint format
The sprint format of the Canadian weekend further reduces the margin for error for the teams. With only one hour of free practice to validate everything, Honda knows that optimal use of FP1 will be crucial to laying the foundation for the weekend.
The goal is therefore clear: to maximize performance from the first session to allow Aston Martin to progress in the hierarchy starting from qualifying.
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