Honda concede to F1 ‘reality’ as challenging Austrian GP awaits

Honda is braced for a «challenging’ Austrian Grand Prix weekend,
and is expecting the «reality» of its deficit to show.  The Red
Bull Ring is located 677m — 2,287 feet — above sea-level, which
places extra demands on the turbocharger due to less air being
available. However, a further complication for 2026 is that the
MGU-H, which was previously used to help force air into the turbo,
has been removed from the power unit. Honda has conceded that this
«may» make it «more challenging» to extract performance for Aston
Martin across the weekend — which is also expected to feature
temperatures regularly in the 30 degrees Celsius region
throughout.  «The Red Bull Ring is in the mountains, located at a
high altitude. This means that the turbocharger is required to work
harder compared to other races,» explained Orihara. «When we had
the MGU-H, we had an impact on the harvesting power at this
circuit. However, as this component is no longer part of the 2026
regulations, we no longer have the MGU-H to assist the
turbocharger, which may make it more challenging to operate both
the turbocharger and the engine correctly at high altitude.  «The
first thing we will do in FP1 is to check the behaviour of both the
turbocharger and the engine. «Moreover, this week, we will expect
high temperatures at the track, so cooling will also be an
important topic to factor in. «Another characteristic of the
circuit is its short layout. Despite its length, there are three
fairly significant straights, and these are a demand on the power
unit.  «The reality is that we may see a deficit here to other PU
manufacturers, but we will adapt elements like our energy
management strategy and driveability to maximise our package for
the weekend.»