Honda to make return to Formula One
Fernando Alonso during practice ahead of this Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix (Image: Getty Images)
Honda will become the engine supplier for Aston Martin starting from 2026. The Japanese manufacturer will become the team’s works power unit supplier after departing from the sport at the end of 2021.
Honda was the supplier of Red Bull for seven years, ending in 2021. Red Bull and Honda continued their partnership as a power unit support deal, which will run from 2022 to 2025.
F1 announced their new engine regulations for 2026 that will introduce 100% sustainable fuels and a greater focus on electrical power, leading to Honda’s excitement to return to the sport and create a new type of engine that will hopefully deliver the manufacturer’s goals.
Now that Red Bull is joining forces with Ford and creating a new in-house power unit division, Honda was forced to look elsewhere. Their hopeful return was found in the arms of ambiguous Aston Martin who were looking for a works partner to develop an engine unique to the team.
Mercedes has been Aston Martin’s supplier since 2009 and will continue to supply the Silverstone-based team with power units, gearboxes, and rear suspensions until the end of 2025.
Toshihiro Mibe, Honda CEO, said: “One of the key reasons for our decision to take up the new challenge in F1 is that the world’s pinnacle form of racing is striving to become a sustainable racing series, which is in line with the direction Honda is aiming toward carbon neutrality, and it will become a platform which will facilitate the development of our electrification technologies.
“Honda is a company that has a history of growing by taking on challenges and winning world-class races. With the new 2026 regulations, the key for winning will be a compact, lightweight, and high-power electric motor with a high-performance battery capable of handling high and swift power output, as well as the energy management technology.
“We believe that the technologies and know-how gained from this new challenge can potentially be applied directly to our future mass production electric vehicles, such as an electric flagship sports model, and electrification technologies in various areas, including eVTOL which is currently under research and development.
“Honda and our new partner, the Aston Martin F1 Team, share the same sincere attitude and determination to win, so starting with the 2026 season, we will work together and strive for the Championship title as Aston Martin Aramco Honda.
“Honda has the utmost respect for the FIA, which made a bold decision to introduce these new and challenging regulations to ensure the sustainability of both racing activities and the global environment, and for the Formula 1 Group, which has been enhancing the brand value of F1 and ensuring F1’s evolvement as the most prestigious automobile racing in the world.”
Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll in Monaco (Image: Getty Images)
Lawerence Stroll, owner of Aston Martin, said: “We share a mutual drive, determination, and relentless ambition to succeed on track. Honda is a global titan and its success in motorsport is longstanding and incredibly impressive.”