Ted Kravitz shares Honda’s ‘weird’ explanation for Aston Martin’s vibration issues at Japanese GP

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Ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, Honda president Koji Watanabe provided a new explanation for Aston Martin’s issues that indirectly places the blame on Adrian Newey’s work.

While Honda suggested Aston Martin’s vibration issues would end at the Japanese Grand Prix, that did not turn out to be the case.

Despite finally being able to finish a race for the first time this season, Fernando Alonso once again struggled with vibrations.

Have Aston Martin already ‘completely ruined’ their relationship with Honda?

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There have been calls for the FIA to intervene on Aston Martin’s behalf and shut them down till these issues are fully addressed, amid concerns about their working relationship with Honda.

And even though Honda dismissed rumours of discord with Aston Martin, comments from Koji Watanabe have Ted Kravitz convinced that something isn’t right between them and Aston Martin.

READ MORE: Karun Chandhok shares what ‘confuses’ him about Aston Martin’s Honda power unit problems

Ted Kravitz explains Honda claimed vibration issue began when power unit was installed in AMR26

On the latest episode of Ted’s Notebook, Ted Kravitz noted that there were questions over Honda’s collapse since leaving Red Bull and forming a partnership with Aston Martin.

He revealed that Koji Watanabe suggested that the power unit’s vibration issues only came about when it was installed into the Aston Martin chassis, and weren’t present there before.

“Honda have had their say to explain why they can go from winning four world championships in a row with Max Verstappen with their engine in the back of the Red Bull to this situation.

“And their explanation, Koji Watanabe, the Honda president said, ‘The reason we started late, after everybody else, was because of Honda corporate’s decision to re-enter Formula 1 after they left.’

“‘And secondly, when we tested the car, and this is the interesting thing, we hadn’t heard this before, it didn’t have the vibrations. But the moment we put the car in the back of the Aston Martin chassis, it suddenly had the vibrations. That’s the weird thing.’ It’s crucial info from Honda.”

READ MORE: The FIA won’t help Aston Martin after Adrian Newey’s attempt to ‘exaggerate’ Honda’s engine issues

Honda didn’t implement vibrations countermeasure during Japanese Grand Prix

Speaking after the Japanese Grand Prix, Honda’s trackside general manager and chief engineer admitted their countermeasures hadn’t been implemented during the race, and had only been tested during free practice.

“We tried new countermeasures on Friday (free practice) in response to what we had done up to the Chinese GP.

“However, we haven’t been able to implement them for the final race yet, so the driver’s vibration situation hasn’t changed since the Chinese GP, and I think it was the driver’s effort that allowed him to finish the race.

“(Regarding the troubles with Stroll’s car) Since we are building the engine under the new regulations, we are still in the process of establishing overall reliability, including the engine and battery. I think we are still in the process of eliminating these minor troubles.”

Honda’s failure to get things done on time for the Japanese Grand Prix did not reflect well on them. And while the scope of the issue is much larger, no improvement on their end is not a good sign.

The hope within the factories at both Sakura and Silverstone is that these issues can be addressed in time for the resumption of the season in May.