Aston Martin F1 snatch up Honda ahead of 2026 season

Honda is expected to make a return to Formula 1 in 2026 as it came to an agreement to become a power unit supplier for Aston Martin’s F1 team.

Following Red Bull’s announcement to be partnered up with Ford for the 2026 season, Aston Martin has taken advantage of Honda’s availability to snap up the Japanese manufacturer ahead of the upcoming engine regulations.

Despite leaving the sport after 2021, when Red Bull’s Max Verstappen secured his maiden world championship, the manufacturer was enticed to return with similarities between F1 and Honda’s sustainability goals.

Prompted by F1’s requirement for the grid to use 100% sustainable fuels and increased focus on electrical power, the energy recovery system (ERS) will see its output tripled.

On the announcement, Global CEO of Honda, Toshihiro Mibe 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.”

Aston Martin is currently a customer team for Mercedes of which they are supplied a number of components such as power units, gearboxes and suspensions. The two will remain connected together until the end of 2025.

However, in 2026 the Silverstone-based outfit will become a works team for Honda as the new engine regulations come in.

The decision to snatch up Honda as a power unit works team comes as Aston Martin is looking to step away from the restrictions as a customer team, in a bid to challenge for world championships.

Following the announcement, Executive Chairman of Aston Martin Cognizant F1 Team,  Lawrence Stroll 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.

“I would like to thank Mr. Mibe and Mr. Watanabe, and the whole team at HRC as we embark on this exciting future together from 2026.”

That’s all for the article: Aston Martin F1 snatch up Honda ahead of 2026 season!

What do you think of the Honda/Aston Martin partnership? Let us know in the comments!

Read more Formula 1 here:

• F1 to donate €1m following devastating floods impacting Emilia Romagna
• F1 to broadcast Monaco GP after historic move
• F1 cancel Imola GP following bad weather in the region
• Ferrari see ‘significant difference’ in performance levels after lacklustre time in Miami
• Miami GP: Verstappen secures second win in Florida from 9th on grid
• Miami GP: Perez on pole in shocking mixed up grid

Give us a follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to keep up with the latest news from the world of Motorsport! You can also support us on Patreon or on our website!

Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.