Tokyo, May 24 (BNA): The Japanese automaker announced Wednesday that Honda will return to Formula 1 as a full engine manufacturer working to fulfill Aston Martin’s title ambitions when the sport enters a new era in 2026.
The new partnership will turn Silverstone-based Aston Martin into Honda’s sole focus on the starting grid from its current position as one of four teams with Mercedes engines.
“It’s very difficult to win championships consistently without a full working relationship, which is why we’ve made this decision,” Martin Whitmarsh, chief executive of Aston Martin Performance Technologies Group, told reporters.
Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) President Koji Watanabe has confirmed that the manufacturer has no plans to supply power units to other teams, Reuters reports.
Honda officially pulled out of Formula 1 in 2021 but continues to supply engines to world champions Red Bull, which has already announced a deal with Ford from 2026, under a technical support arrangement.
CEO Toshihiro Mibe said the 2026 regulations and Formula 1’s pressure for sustainability are in line with Honda’s goals for carbon neutrality.
“The key to victory will be a compact, lightweight, high-powered electric motor and high-performance battery capable of handling high and rapid power outputs, as well as power management technology,” he said.
“We believe that the technologies and know-how gained from this new challenge can be directly applied to mass-produced electric vehicles in the future, such as the flagship electric sports model, and electrification technologies in various fields.”
Formula One 2026’s power unit will use 100% sustainable types and have a much larger electrical component, with the sport aiming to be carbon neutral by 2030.
ZHB