What's Honda hiding? Details of new F1 power unit expertly concealed

In photos of the new Honda power unit, shared by RacingNews365 earlier today, the Japanese manufacturing giant displayed its all-new system.

Of course, dark shadows made it a little tricky to really zoom in on the design. Even so, it was unusual for F1 to get acquainted with a power unit in this way, especially given the changes for this season.

The PU has undergone a major overhaul, noticeably the removal of the MGU-H, leading to a beefed-up MGU-K that will provide 350kW of power as opposed to the previous 120kW, designed to enhance overtaking and improve straight-line speed.

In other photos, however, it was clear that Honda, quite naturally under the circumstances, had no intention of revealing all of its secrets. Certain components on the underside of the PU were skillfully blurred out. 

RacingNews365 technical expert Paolo Filisetti explained that it was done, not so much to hide certain components from view, but rather to shield the configuration of those components in relation to one another.

Nevertheless, the spying eyes of Honda's competitors may still be able to conclude how the PU fits into the Aston Martin chassis, and from there, reach potential conclusions on the aero design as a result.

Offering a general assessment on Honda's new PU, Toshihiro Mibe, Honda Motor Corporation president and representative executive officer, said: "In 2026, F1 will undergo a major change in regulations for both the chassis and power unit.

"Honda sees F1 as a symbol of challenge and innovation, and HRC, the global racing arm of Honda, has developed the RA626H, the new power unit for the 2026 season, to meet those challenges.

"Striving to become number one in the world, Honda will continue to take on challenges, together with the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team."