Honda wants to "form a single team" with Aston Martin in 2026

On the eve of one of the most significant regulatory changes in the history of Formula 1, the stable Aston Martin is preparing to become a factory team, as it will be the only one to benefit from the support of engine manufacturer Honda, which will therefore only equip the two single-seaters of Fernando Alonso et Lance stroll on the 2026 grid.

Interviewed by Aston Martin as part of its "Undercut" interview series, Koji Watanabe, the head of Honda Racing Corporation, explained in particular why the Japanese engine manufacturer had chosen to partner with the British manufacturer for its official return to the top category of motorsport.

“We have always been very selective in choosing our partners. In this case, I was very impressed by the team's leadership and by the passion and vision of Executive Chairman Lawrence Stroll. He is very competitive and always focused on winning. It's very impressive. You can see this drive to succeed in the new facilities at the Aston Martin Racing Technology Campus, but also in the way the organization has strengthened itself in recent years with experienced personnel. The team's commitment and focus are very strong, which we really liked. It's also very exciting.”

Having returned to Formula 1 for the first time in 2015, Honda has experienced lean years with McLaren until 2017, before the launch of a particularly fruitful partnership with the galaxy Red BullFirst, via Toro Rosso In 2018, and then with the main team from 2019 onwards, with four world drivers' titles and three constructors' titles since then. The Japanese brand has always been keen to maintain a virtually exclusive relationship with its partners, and Aston Martin will be no exception from 2026.

“The relationships between the engineers are already very strong, but I think they will improve and intensify even further as we progress with the project. Initially, our common ground was this winning mentality, and when I talk with Lawrence or any member of the AMR Technology Campus leadership team, I always feel like we are one team. This ‘teamwork’ philosophy is very important.”

“Currently, Aston Martin Aramco engineers work at HRC in Sakura, Japan, and HRC engineers work at the AMR technology campus in Silverstone. We collaborate very closely through this relationship: our organizations exchange a great deal of knowledge and experience.”

Adrian Newey, the link

Due to the constant changes in teams, one man is perhaps better suited than anyone else to serve as a link between the two partners: Adrian Newey. The British engineer, who will become Aston Martin's Team Principal and Technical Director next year, previously collaborated with Honda during his time at Red Bull, when he designed the cars that enabled... Max Verstappen to clinch his world titles. A comical situation that certainly brought a smile to Watanabe's face!

“We had a lot of laughs when we first met after he joined Aston Martin. It was a bit like we were saying, ‘Well, here we are again!’ It’s very exciting to have him here and, of course, we have enormous respect for him and his abilities. Adrian is one of the people I communicate with frequently, and our exchanges of opinions, suggestions, and feedback are often very intense, but always focused on winning.”

“Whenever we have a technical discussion about components or development, we always focus on how to achieve our long-term goal. This can relate to any topic: it could be a very detailed design issue, but also competitive analysis, how to manage people to get the best out of them, or even finances and the most efficient use of budget constraints.”

As Formula 1 embarks on a new era full of unknowns and innovations (the Red Bull/Ford partnership, the arrival of Audi and Cadillac, for example), the result of an Aston Martin/Adrian Newey/Honda collaboration intrigues most observers… First answers will come in less than 90 days, with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne (on March 8).

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