Verstappen 'concealed' Honda's shortcomings as Aston's troubles intensify.

      "They failed to investigate who was actually constructing this engine."

      Max Verstappen may have inadvertently obscured the real weaknesses of Honda’s F1 project, a reality that is now affecting Aston Martin during its difficult 2026 season. This perspective comes from Ralf Schumacher, who asserts that the Dutch driver's outstanding performance last year made the manufacturer's actual capability seem better than it was.

      "Last year, as I have now gathered, Honda was already not up to par," Schumacher told f1-insider.com. "That’s why Max often used the smaller wings to make up for it. He had the skill for it, while the others did not."

      In other words, Schumacher posits that even the 2025 engine "seemed more powerful at first glance than it truly was," which may have swayed Aston Martin's choice to move from Mercedes to Honda during the new regulations era.

      So far, the outcome has been disastrous, with the Silverstone-based team facing severe issues with both performance and reliability. Schumacher also critiqued the decision-making behind the Honda partnership, making a remark about team owner Lawrence Stroll.

      "It’s somewhat disappointing that they didn’t investigate who was really behind the engine before finalizing the agreement," he stated. "One could argue that if someone from the fashion industry is managing a Formula 1 team, they're unlikely to grasp all the intricacies."

      Beyond just the engine, Schumacher highlighted a larger structural problem. "In Formula 1, consistency is undoubtedly vital," he noted. "The issue is that Aston Martin is precisely lacking this consistency. With constant changes in personnel and many prominent names, there is no stable foundation. That’s detrimental to success in Formula 1."

      On the track, this instability is evident. Fernando Alonso finally completed the race in Suzuka, yet the team remained the slowest, while Lance Stroll retired once again—this time due to a water pressure issue. "Fernando and I are currently running our own mini Aston Martin championship," Stroll humorously remarked afterward.