Honda Reveals Key 'Secrets' to Upgraded F1 Engine for Zandvoort

Honda has revealed details behind its upgraded Formula 1 power unit for Aston Martin ahead of this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.

Honda Trackside General Manager and Chief Engineer Shintaro Orihara disclosed that the Spec 2 engine focuses on more efficient combustion and reduced friction. This comes as a boost for Aston Martin, which has struggled throughout the first half of the season, often finding itself at the back of the pack due to an underwhelming chassis and power unit.

"We focused on improving engine performance to make combustion faster," Orihara said in a social media video. "It's kind of a secret, but I can disclose a little bit. We changed the pre-chamber to make combustion faster, changed the piston shape to get good combustion, and modified some lubrication systems to reduce friction. We had quite a big list to improve engine performance."

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Aston Martin showed progress after a significant chassis upgrade at the Hungarian Grand Prix, which thrust them into the midfield battle. With the new engine, the team hopes to continue that momentum and compete more fiercely at Zandvoort.

"I can't disclose the detailed number, but we have achieved our internal target, and I'm confident in what the HRC Sakura factory guys achieved for the Spec 2 engine," Orihara added. "We are excited to bring the new Spec engine to the Netherlands."

Estimates for Honda's horsepower improvement range between 30-50 bhp. Additionally, Aston Martin will have new parts at Zandvoort, with further upgrades expected for Monza and Baku, as the team looks to recover from a disastrous few months.