TEAM Principle Adrian Newey has stated their new Honda engine could cause permanent nerve damage to both drivers within 25 laps of running.
Aston Martin’s pre-season has been nothing short of a nightmare with multiple problems causing a bumpy start leading up to this weekend. Literally.
Honda have become the British team’s new engine manufacturer for this season, and it hasn’t been plain sailing leading up to the Australian Grand Prix. The vibrations that are transmitting through the drivers’ steering wheel into the fingers of Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso have been said to be so harmful, it is unlikely they will finish the race on Sunday.
Alonso told Aston Martin that he couldn’t complete more than 25 laps before risking permanent damage to his hand. Stroll on the other hand (pun intended) said that he couldn’t even complete 15 laps before the Canadian driver had to return to the pits.
The team have tried different ways to fix the vibrations in the engine leading to battery failures in the hybrid system.
Newey still has faith in the manufacture, mentioning their track record within the sport and their recent success with Red Bull. He believes the car has ‘huge potential’ but it will most likely take a few races for it to get there.
Both drivers finished at the back of the grid during this morning’s practice sessions a long way off the pace.
