Aston Martin and Honda agree F1 engine partnership from 2026

Honda only recently departed as Red Bull’s engine supplier, with the dominant team buying up old Honda assets and designs and creating Red Bull Powertrains. The Japanese marque departed citing a lack of synergy between F1 in its then-current form, and the goals of the road car company.

Now, Honda are back, citing an interest in the sport’s 2026-onwards commitment to 100 per cent sustainable fuels and a greater focus on the electric-powered element.

“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,” said Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe.

“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.”

The deal will be exclusive, with Koji Watanabe, President of Honda Racing Corporation, saying that the marque has no plans to supply “any other parties” than Aston Martin going forwards from 2026.

The Aston Martin Honda collaboration joins a growing raft of grid changes for the 2026 season and its new power unit rules. Audi is confirmed to be joining as a factory team with its own power unit, taking over once the Alfa Romeo title sponsorship ends.

Honda’s previous F1 partner Red Bull has also announced its plans to join forces with Ford, striking its own engine deal with the American giant set to begin in 2026. Needless to say, the winds of change are blowing in the F1 paddock.

Top image courtesy of Motorsport Images.