The Honda-Aston Martin partnership, which will hit the track in 2026, is “on the cusp of something very special,” said Koji Watanabe, president of Honda Racing Corporation.
Honda and Aston Martin are joining forces for the new Formula 1 engine regulations, with the Japanese manufacturer bringing its time with Red Bull to an end this year. The Red Bull partnership ended with three consecutive wins – bringing the total to 72 since 2018 – but the focus now turns to a new era that Watanabe says is designed with future long-term success in mind.
“Definition of success… for me, 2026 is a year to ensure that the partnership we have created between Aston Martin Aramco and Honda functions as planned, as one integrated team,” Watanabe told Aston Martin’s website. “We need to ensure that we have the values we strive for and that we achieve our performance goals.
“What we cannot predict and what we have no control over is the status of our competitors. Before we know that, we will be able to talk about nothing other than achieving our own internal goals for the season. In the longer term, the ultimate goal of this partnership, and our definition of success, is of course to win the World Championship.”
“It’s really important to look at this in the long term. Our relationship with Aston Martin Aramco goes beyond a technical partnership – we share a common vision. There’s a lot of passion in the team at the AMR Technology Campus, but also a lot of quality. Combine that with Honda’s development skills and ability to deliver winning powerplants, and we have the potential to be successful in F1 not just in 2026, but in ’27, ’28 and beyond.”
“We are on the verge of something very special.”
The changes for 2026 also include new aerodynamic regulations and allow for a very different pecking order next season, with Watanabe emphasizing the need to work together if there is a loss of performance early in the new cycle.
“It comes back to the idea of being one team. It’s essential to trust and respect your partners and keep improving together,” he said. “Honda has supplied engines and power units to various teams over the decades. There have been days and years with very good results, but also days and years with bad results. Whatever happens on the track, it is important that we remain one.”
“F1 can be… cruel. It’s a cruel business and sometimes when the results aren’t what you hope for, it’s hard to improve – but it’s absolutely essential to maintain the relationship of trust and respect with your partners.”
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