Fernando Alonso's home race in Barcelona will provide extra motivation for Honda this weekend, but the Japanese manufacturer admits performance remains below expectations heading into the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.
Honda Trackside General Manager and Chief Engineer Shintaro Orihara highlighted the significance of racing in front of Alonso's home crowd while acknowledging the team's ongoing challenges as Formula 1 returns to one of the sport's most complete circuits.
Orihara said: "The Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix is Fernando's home race, so that makes this event very special.
"Of course, we know that our performance is not where we want it to be, but we will do our utmost to give the drivers our maximum."
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has long been regarded as one of Formula 1's benchmark venues, combining high-speed sweeps, medium-speed corners and slower technical sections that expose both car and power unit weaknesses.
Barcelona remains the ultimate all-round test
Orihara explained that the circuit's diverse layout is one of the reasons teams have traditionally used it for testing, with success requiring a well-balanced package across every performance area.
"The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya shares some characteristics with other tracks on the F1 calendar which is why testing often happens here," he said.
"There are high-speed corners, middle-speed corners and a couple of low-speed sections. Having a complete PU package is vital, especially in the mid to low-speed corners."
With Barcelona demanding strong efficiency and energy deployment, Honda expects power unit management to play a key role throughout the weekend.
Energy deployment under the spotlight
One area Honda will monitor closely is how drivers approach the circuit's fast and medium-speed corners, where different throttle strategies could have a significant impact on energy recovery and deployment.
Orihara revealed that simulations have already highlighted varying approaches drivers may adopt around the Spanish circuit.
"It will be interesting to see how the drivers' throttle application is applied in the middle and high-speed corners," he explained.
"I expect that some drivers may lift and others may go full throttle, which can significantly impact energy management. We have checked the scenarios on the sim, but it will be important to see how this translates to real life at the track."
As Formula 1 returns to a circuit that tested the new generation of 2026 cars earlier this year, Barcelona is expected to provide one of the clearest indications yet of the true competitive order.
For Honda, the challenge will be maximising energy efficiency and extracting every possible advantage as Alonso bids to deliver a strong result in front of his home fans.
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