What’s happening here?
The new regulations will see a significant increase in the deployment of electric power and the use of 100 percent sustainable fuel supplied by Aramco, a strategic partner of the AMF1 Team.
Lawrence Stroll, Executive Chairman of the AMF1 team, said:
“I would like to welcome Honda and Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) to the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team. We share a mutual relentless drive, determination and ambition to succeed on the track.
“Honda is a global titan and their success in motorsport is impressive and long-standing. I would like to thank Mr. Mibe and Mr. Watanabe, and the entire HRC team, as we embark together on this exciting future starting in 2026”.
Toshihiro Mibe, Honda’s global CEO, said:
“One of the key reasons for our decision to accept the new challenge of F1 is that the most important form of racing in the world strives to become a sustainable racing series, which is in line with the direction that Honda is taking. moving towards carbon neutrality, and will become a platform that will facilitate the development of our electrification technologies.
“Honda is a company that has a history of growth by taking on challenges and winning races worldwide. With the new 2026 regulations, the key to winning will be a compact, lightweight, high-output electric motor with high output, a battery capable of handling high and fast power delivery, as well as energy management technology.
“We believe that the technologies and insights gained from this new challenge can potentially be directly applied to our future mass-production electric vehicles, such as an electric flagship sports car and electrification technologies in various areas, including eVTOL, which is currently under Investigation and development.
Honda eVTOL an electric aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing for interurban transportation
“Honda and our new partner, the Aston Martin F1 Team, share the same sincere attitude and determination to win, so from the 2026 season we will work together and fight for the Championship title as Aston Martin Aramco Honda.
“Honda has the utmost respect for the FIA, which made the bold decision to introduce these challenging new regulations to ensure the sustainability of both racing activities and the global environment, and for Formula One Group, which has been enhancing the value brand of F1 and ensuring the evolution of F1 as the most prestigious motor racing serial in the world”.
Martin Whitmarsh, Group CEO, Aston Martin Performance Technologies, said:
I have been fortunate in my career to work with Honda over the years and I am delighted to have the opportunity to partner with HRC and the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team from 2026.
The new 2026 F1 power unit regulations are a huge and important change, but we are confident that we can successfully navigate together.. Together with our strategic partner Aramco, we can look forward to open collaboration towards a common goal. Our future work partnership with Honda is one of the last pieces of the puzzle to click into place for Aston Martin’s ambitious plans in Formula One.
Finally, I would like to pay tribute to our current power unit supplier – Mercedes-Benz – with whom we will continue to partner for seasons to come.
Koji Watanabe, President of Honda Racing Corporation, said:
Amid major changes in our business and motorsports environment leading to the transition to a carbon neutral society, we have re-established HRC as an optimal platform to sustain and further develop motorsports activities as a sling fortress.
We will establish sustainable operating structures for our racing activities and continue to bring more dreams and excitement to motorsports fans around the world.”
Stefano Domenicali, Chairman and CEO of Formula One, said:
It is great news for Formula One that Honda is partnering with Aston Martin to supply power units from 2026. This is further proof that our global platform and growth provide brands with great potential, and also shows that our plans to switch to sustainable fuels by 2026 is the right approach to offer the automotive world alternative solutions to decarbonise the planet.
“We can all see the incredible commitment Aston Martin has made to our sport and we can’t wait to see the exciting partnership in action, and I want to congratulate both parties on this exciting news.”
And Fernando Alonso?
Obviously, the sensation driver of the 2023 season with Aston Martin F1 had absolutely nothing to do with said negotiation, but… I have several questions that I leave open…
It is known to all that there was a terrible relationship between the driver Fernando Alonso and Honda a few years ago, due to the poor performance of the Japanese manufacturer when it was a supplier of power units for McLaren in 2015, and there were also some bickering between the Spanish driver and the Japanese manufacturer, supplier of Indy car engines, during the Asturian’s participation in the Indianapolis 500 in 2020 when Honda vetoed him from using its engines in the aforementioned competition.
Will Fernando Alonso continue to be active in F1 in 2026? If the answer is affirmative, another question arises: Will you continue to defend the colors of Aston Martin and Honda? Will there be any limiting clause imposed by Honda on Aston Martin F1 in this regard?
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