Where Aston Martin ‘internally’ think they would be if they had a Mercedes engine

Follow us on Google Discover

Aston Martin reportedly believe their Honda power unit is around 1.5 seconds off the pace per lap.

Adrian Newey’s brand-new chassis debuted at the Hungarian Grand Prix, helping the team make their first Q2 appearance of the year through Fernando Alonso. The two cars would finish 13th and 14th in the race, their best collective showing of the year.

At the Dutch Grand Prix after the summer break, Honda are planning to introduce a new engine. That upgrade could determine whether Aston Martin can consistently fight for points in the second half of the season.

Where Fernando Alonso would have qualified in Hungary with a Mercedes power unit

According to BBC Sport, Aston Martin have ‘internally’ calculated that Honda’s engine is ‘somewhere in the region’ of 1.5s off the best power unit per lap.

While the FIA ranked Red Bull’s ICE as the benchmark after the Miami GP, Toto Wolff has acknowledged that Mercedes have the most power (when accounting for both elements of the hybrid). That reflects the consensus among experts.

What can Aston Martin achieve in the second half of the season after their successful upgrade?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

Where, then, would Aston Martin be if they had this Mercedes engine, supposedly worth an extra 1.5s of performance?

Alonso set a 1:19.808 in Hungary qualifying, 2.352s off Lando Norris’ Q2 benchmark. A 1:18.308 would have put the Spaniard seventh in that session, between the Red Bull of Max Verstappen and Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad. It was also quicker than the time Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg managed in the top 10 shoot-out (1:18.686).

It’s only a one-race sample, but the early evidence suggests that Aston Martin’s overhauled car would be quick enough to reach Q3 with a Mercedes engine in the back, particularly in the hands of Alonso.

The team’s calculations suggest that Newey has finally delivered a solid midfield chassis. He claimed at the start of the season that they were already in the top five in that department, only to realise that a redesign was required.

Ironically, Aston Martin were powered by Mercedes last season but ended the partnership in favour of an exclusive deal with Honda.

Rumours suggest Honda could find 50 horsepower through their upgrade, which is being tested at the Hungaroring this week. This could more than halve the gap to Mercedes, but they may still be outsiders in the battle for points.