Starting in 2026, Honda is teaming up with Aston Martin for Formula 1, leaving behind its successful partnership with Red Bull. When Honda first said it was leaving F1, Red Bull decided to take control of making its own engines and joined forces with Ford for 2026. But when Honda changed its mind about leaving, it had to find a new partner to work with.
Honda talked to a few different teams, but they were really impressed by Aston Martin’s owner, Stroll. He was serious about setting up everything needed to try and win the championship starting in 2026.
Koji Watanabe, the president of Honda Racing Corporation, talked to Motorsport.com and said that Honda shares the goal of winning the championship with Aston Martin. When asked about their ambitions with Aston Martin, Watanabe said, “To become world champion from 2026 onwards.”
Watanabe knows it won’t be easy, but they want to give it their best shot. He said, “We need some good targets to put in our best effort together with Aston Martin.”
He also talked about how both teams need to figure out what they’re missing to become a top team. They have to be honest with each other and work together to solve problems.
Watanabe was really impressed with Stroll’s plans for Aston Martin. He mentioned how serious Stroll was about winning, pointing to the team’s new facility in Silverstone. Stroll invested a lot of money to build it, showing how committed he is.
Honda also thinks Aston Martin is a good partner for them to try and win the championship. They’ve already started working together on technical stuff and meeting to talk about important issues.
Fernando Alonso, a two-time world champion, decided to stay with Aston Martin into the Honda era until at least 2026. He believes in the partnership between Aston Martin and Honda and wants to be a part of it.
