Japanese manufacturer Honda will become the engine supplier for the Aston Martin team from 2026, when new engine rules come into force in Formula 1.
Although Fernando Alonso is still with the team.
Alonso and the Japanese engine maker enjoyed an acrimonious relationship in 2015, after the Spaniard publicly criticized Honda’s lack of effort. He now drives for the stable of the group led by Quebec billionaire Lawrence Stroll, and the team announced Wednesday in Tokyo that it had entered into a business partnership with Honda which will officially begin in 2026.
Alonso is the teammate of Quebecer Lance Stroll. Both drivers are having remarkable seasons; Alonso has four podiums in five races so far and sits third in the drivers’ championship, while Stroll sits eighth in the standings – a career-high in F1.
Honda is back in F1 due to new engine rules, part of motorsport’s premier series’ drive to be carbon neutral by 2030. Engines supplied to teams from 2026 will have a ratio of maximum engine / electric motor power of 50 / 50 and will be powered by 100% renewable fuel.
Ford has already indicated that it wants to return to F1 with Red Bull in 2026 due to new engine rules, while General Motors, through its Cadillac brand, wants to join Michael Andretti’s team – if that -this is accepted in F1.
Honda officially ended its deal with Red Bull after the 2021 season — following Max Verstappen’s first world championship win — and has only been a technical partner to Red Bull and sister team Alpha Tauri ever since. time. The Aston Martin team is currently powered by Mercedes.
So far, the International Automobile Federation has approved powertrain concepts from Alpine, Audi, Ferrari, Honda, Mercedes and Red Bull through Ford for 2026. Audi will also enter F1.