Joan Mir missed Austria after Honda ordered rest and further tests
NXTbets Pro | Published On: September 16, 2026
Mir missed Austria
Honda HRC Castrol confirmed Joan Mir would miss the Austrian Grand Prix after medical checks in Barcelona found altered blood work parameters that needed further investigation. Doctors told Mir to focus on recovery and sit out the Spielberg weekend while more tests were carried out. Honda said no clear diagnosis had been made. Mir did not travel to Austria, and the team moved to put a replacement in place. The decision came after Mir retired on lap 6 of the Misano Grand Prix before heading to Barcelona for the tests that prompted the latest setback.
The team’s update made the situation clear. The issue remained under review, and Honda was waiting for more answers before mapping out the next step. The priority was recovery and more testing, not a return to the track.
Barcelona tests continued
The sequence ran from a lap-6 retirement at Misano to Barcelona testing and then an Austrian round without Mir. The findings from those checks kept the focus on understanding the situation before his return.
Nakagami replaced Mir
Takaaki Nakagami stepped in for Mir in Austria. Nakagami had recently completed a test at Mugello, and he was already set for a home wildcard entry at Motegi. Honda’s decision put Nakagami in a race seat at short notice. He also was scheduled to take part in a post-race test, adding more track time to a busy run of assignments.
Mir was targeting a return for the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi. Nakagami was also set for a home wildcard entry at the same venue. The update was that Mir stayed out of Austria, Nakagami took his place, and Honda awaited further medical answers.
