Honda Hails Reliability Step as Aston Martin Finally Finishes a Race at Suzuka

Overview

• Fernando Alonso reached the checkered flag at Suzuka, the first race distance completed by the new Aston Martin–Honda pairing this season.
• Honda chief engineer Shintaro Orihara called the run a “good step” for reliability and said the full stint gave data to steer work before Miami.
• The car remains far off the pace, with Alonso classified 18th and well outside the points in a result that underlines the scale of the deficit.
• Early-season problems centered on severe power-unit vibrations that damaged multiple batteries and triggered retirements, which limited mileage since pre-season testing in Barcelona.
• Aston Martin trackside lead Mike Krack said the relationship with Honda is sound and that there was no need to “make peace” as both groups push fixes in Sakura and at Silverstone.