Honda set for F1 return with Aston Martin

British Formula One team Aston Martin have announced that they will be entering in a works partnership agreement with Japanese manufacturer Honda, starting with the 2026 Formula One (F1) season.

The partnership will see Honda provide the Aston Martin team with power units, which will be compliant with the new F1 power unit regulations that will come into effect from the 2026 season. 

In teaming up with Aston Martin, Honda is set for a full-time return to the sport, having left the grid at the end of the 2021 season after its seven-year partnership with Red Bull ended.

Honda currently has a power unit support deal in place with Red Bull, which runs till 2025. Red Bull will team up with Ford for their own in-house power unit division for the 2026 season, when the new engine regulations come into play. 

Mercedes will continue to supply Aston Martin with power units until the end of the 2025 season. 

Also read: Formula One 2023 Team Sponsors: Aston Martin

Lawrence Stroll, Executive Chairman, AMF1 Team, commented:

“I would like to welcome Honda and Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) to the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team. 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.“

Toshihiro Mibe, Global CEO, Honda, 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. Honda and our new partner, the Aston Martin F1 Team, share the same sincere attitude and determination to win, so starting with the 2026 season, we will work together and strive for the Championship title as Aston Martin Aramco Honda.

“Honda has the utmost respect for the FIA, which made a bold decision to introduce these new and challenging regulations to ensure the sustainability of both racing activities and the global environment, and for the Formula One Group, which has been enhancing the brand value of F1 and ensuring F1’s evolvement as the most prestigious automobile racing in the world.“

Martin Whitmarsh, Group CEO, Aston Martin Performance Technologies, added:

“I have been fortunate in my career to work with Honda over the years and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with HRC and the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team from 2026. The new 2026 F1 power unit regulations are a huge and important change but one which we are confident we can navigate successfully together. Jointly with our strategic partner Aramco, we can look forward to open collaboration towards a common goal. Our future works partnership with Honda is one of the last parts of the jigsaw puzzle slotting into place for Aston Martin’s ambitious plans in Formula One.

“Finally, I would like to pay tribute to our current power unit supplier who we will continue to partner with for the next few seasons.“

Koji Watanabe, President, Honda Racing Corporation, stated:

“In the midst of major changes in our business and the motorsports environment leading toward the transition to a carbon neutral society, we have re-established HRC as an optimal platform to sustain and further evolve motorsport activities as a Honda strength. We will establish sustainable operational structures for our racing activities and continue to deliver more dreams and excitement for motorsports fans all around the world.“

Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO, Formula One, added:

“It is great news for Formula One that Honda will partner with Aston Martin to supply power units from 2026. This is further evidence that our global platform and growth provides brands with huge potential, and it also shows that our plans to move to sustainable fuels in 2026 is the right approach to offer the automotive world alternative solutions to decarbonise the planet.

“We can all see the incredible commitment Aston Martin has made to our sport and we can’t wait to see the exciting partnership in action, and I want to congratulate both parties on this exciting news.“