Concern in Honda ranks ahead of 2026? “Everything is very difficult”

As fear begins to creep into the paddock, Honda has been less than reassuring about the 2026 engine challenge.

Published 30/01/2025 à 12:42

Gonzalo Forbes

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Concern in Honda ranks ahead of 2026? “Everything is very difficult”

© Antonin Vincent / DPPI

While the 2025 season has not yet started, the 2026 season is already the talk of the town in the corridors of the F1. It must be said that this exercise will mark the introduction of new engine regulations that could shake everything up. Some even fear total domination by a competitor who would succeed in exploiting the rules better than the rest. Like Mercedes in 2014 and the switch to hybrid.

« I think there is a good chance that it will be an 'engine championship' at the start., Adrian Newey recently explained from Auto Motor und Sport. In fact, I can't remember another time in Formula 1 where the chassis and engine regulations changed simultaneously. In this case [from 2026], The chassis regulations were written to try to compensate for the power unit regulations. So there is an extra dimension.

 I think the engine manufacturers will have learned – to some extent – ​​the lack of preparation of Mercedes' rivals before this change. [in 2014]. But there is certainly a chance that a manufacturer will do much better. [than the others] and that the regulation allows for domination by the power unit, at least at the beginning »

Honda admits complexity of new engines

Will this engine manufacturer in question be Honda, which is preparing to be the exclusive supplier ofAston Martin from 2026? This seems to be off to a bad start, judging by the internal discourse.

Indeed, the first feedback from the Japanese manufacturer indicates a very complex project with many new features to take into consideration compared to the latest engine block developed in collaboration with Red Bull. Which makes it difficult to begin a new era. We are fighting, said Koji Watanabe, president of HRC (Honda Racing Corporation), on the sidelines of the last 24 Hours of Daytona.

We are currently doing our best to achieve results next year. Everything is new. The engine (electric) 355 KW is new, very compact. The lightweight battery is also not easy to develop. And also the small engine with great power (in reference to the 475hp thermal engine compared to almost 800 today). It's all very difficult, but we're doing our best. »

Honda F1 Formula 1 engine 2026

David Salters (HRC US President) and Koji Watanabe. © Honda

With this new regulation, the FIA ​​is aiming for an equal contribution between the two engines since the 355 kW translates to around 480 hp. In any case, this exit of Koji Watanabe risks not reassuring Aston Martin while Honda had already very badly negotiated its return to F1 in 2015 and its partnership with McLaren, far from initial expectations, before returning to success by collaborating with Red Bull. It remains to be seen whether the Japanese manufacturer will succeed in its bet better this time.

ALSO READ > Mercedes Engine 2026: Toto Wolff takes stock

Gonzalo Forbes

In charge of promotion formulas (F2, F3, FRECA, F4...). Carried by the grace of Franco Colapinto.

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2 Comment (s)

K

Ken Hendrix

04/02/2025 at 05:57 a.m.

This is a very Japanese expression. The Japanese don't like to show off their good results during the test phase, even if they are good. Not like the British from Milton Keynes.

V

vincent moyet

30/01/2025 at 05:08 a.m.

One of the major problems of current F1 is the rule of "why make it simple when you can make it complicated?". But complexity in the regulations (technical or sporting) is killing the sport. Since it was sold to the major world manufacturers by Ecclestone, it has become their technological showcase, but interest is only plummeting because one domination replaces another, and we are bored to death watching. So it is counterproductive, they invest crazy amounts of money to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs...

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