P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Honda admit Aston Martin ‘playing catch-up’ after difficult Bahrain test
Honda trackside general manager and chief engineer Shintaro Orihara acknowledged that Aston Martin is behind on their testing program due to the new power-unit regulations.
Aston Martin has faced challenges adapting to the regulations since becoming a works team in partnership with Honda.
The team missed valuable track time during the Barcelona test and struggled to improve their performance in Bahrain.
Both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll expressed concerns about the team’s pace and the handling of the new cars.
During the Bahrain test, Aston Martin completed the fewest laps of any team, emphasizing the need for further development and collaboration.
Orihara highlighted the benefits of the Bahrain test for learning about the power unit and energy management, despite the limited running.
The team remains focused on improving together with Honda and is determined to make progress in the upcoming test sessions.
