Overview
- Italian reports say Aston Martin could complete only the formation lap or a few laps before retiring both cars to satisfy participation requirements.
- The team insists it will line up in Melbourne, with plans under discussion to limit running to protect scarce components given another race follows in China next week.
- HRC chief Ikuo Takeishi states Bahrain testing produced unusual vibrations that damaged the battery and made further running unsafe.
- Honda indicates multiple interacting components across the power unit and chassis are involved, complicating a quick reliability fix under FIA constraints.
- Adrian Newey and Andy Cowell have traveled to Honda’s Sakura facility for full-monocoque vibration testing as both sides prepare to trial mitigations in practice.