Honda is set to return to Formula One as Aston Martin’s engine partner beginning in 2026. The Japanese manufacturer officially exited the sport at the end of 2021, but their engines are still powering the two Red Bull teams, which have been renamed Hondas for the 2023 season. Honda cited F1’s commitment to carbon neutrality by 2030 as the primary reason for its decision to officially re-enter the sport.
New regulations will be implemented in 2026, which will improve the electrical performance of F1 engines. In addition, the FIA, the sport’s governing body, will require the use of fully sustainable synthetic fuels. Honda Racing Corporation President Koji Watanabe explained that the significant increase in electrical power will necessitate a compact, lightweight, high-power motor with an advanced battery capable of efficiently managing high-power output. He believes that the knowledge gained from this new Formula 1 challenge can be directly applied to future mass-production electric vehicles, which aligns with Honda’s goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2030.
F1 has used hybrid engines since 2014, but upcoming rule changes will significantly alter their layout. The most notable change is the removal of the MGU-H, a hybrid system component that recovers energy from the turbo, and a significant increase in the proportion of hybrid power in the engine’s overall output. Watanabe acknowledged that current electrical power accounts for 20% or less of total power when compared to internal combustion engines, but the new regulations require at least 50% electrification. He emphasized that the electrification technology developed through Honda’s involvement in F1 will be invaluable for their future vehicle production.
The use of carbon-neutral fuels in the engine is consistent with Honda’s strategic direction. Watanabe also stated that the decision was influenced by the expansion of F1’s cost cap to include engines, which made long-term and continuous participation in F1 more manageable. Honda has recently enjoyed success in the sport, having won the last two drivers’ championships with Red Bull and Max Verstappen, as well as the constructors’ championship last season. They are on track to repeat their title double in 2023, as Red Bull has dominated the first five races of the season, winning all five races.
Red Bull, on the other hand, has decided to develop its own engine for the 2026 season, forming a partnership with American automaker Ford to invest in and brand the power unit. Aston Martin, which finished seventh in the championship last year, has made significant progress in terms of competitiveness in 2023 and is now second in the constructors’ championship, trailing Red Bull. Their driver, Fernando Alonso, is currently third in the drivers’ championship, trailing only Max Verstappen and teammate Sergio Perez.
The improvement at Aston Martin can be attributed to a significant investment and restructuring program implemented over the last five years, which includes the construction of a new factory set to open this month. A new wind tunnel is also under construction and is expected to be completed by late 2024. Watanabe emphasized that Honda and Aston Martin’s F1 teams share the same spirit, while Martin Whitmarsh, group CEO of Aston Martin Performance Technologies, expressed excitement about the partnership and stated that both organizations share an unwavering desire to succeed on the track.
The collaboration between Honda and Aston Martin will end Aston Martin’s collaboration with Mercedes. Aston Martin currently buys a significant portion of the rear of their car from Mercedes, including the engine, gearbox, and suspension. Whitmarsh admitted that building the gearbox and suspension internally would be difficult, but he saw it as necessary for their progress. While Honda has no plans to supply engines to other teams at this time, Watanabe clarified that driver selection would be up to the team, implying that they would not object to working with Fernando Alonso again.
Fernando Alonso joined McLaren in 2015 to work on the Honda project, but the team and engine manufacturer parted ways after three difficult years. Alonso’s relationship with Honda deteriorated during this period, in part due to his public criticism of the engine. Watanabe, on the other hand, confirmed that Honda would leave driver selection entirely up to the team and expressed no reservations about working with Alonso again. Whitmarsh expressed hope that Alonso would continue racing after 2026 and that talks about his future with the team would begin before then.
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