Ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, Aston Martin has in the present day introduced that will probably be getting into right into a works partnership with Honda from the 2026 F1 season onwards.
Honda returned to the game in 2018 when it began supplying powertrains to Toro Rosso (now Scuderia Alpha Tauri) in 2018 earlier than transferring up the ladder to provide engines to Red Bull Racing in 2019.
The partnership culminated in a world championship in 2021 when Max Verstappen secured his first title within the Honda-powered Red Bull Racing automotive with the success repeated final 12 months when the Milton Keynes-based squad clinched each the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships.
The announcement additionally implies that Aston Martin’s long-time partnership with Mercedes is ready to come to an finish. The Anglo-German producer has been the engine provider of the Silverstone-based workforce since 2009 with the partnership set to proceed till the tip of the present energy unit period. It implies that Aston Martin will use the Mercedes-developed energy models, plus the gearbox and rear suspension till the tip of 2025.
“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,” mentioned Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe.
“Honda is an organization that has a historical past of rising by taking up challenges and profitable world-class races. With the brand new 2026 laws, the important thing for profitable can be a compact, light-weight, and high-power electrical motor with a high-performance battery able to dealing with excessive and swift energy output, in addition to the vitality administration expertise.
“We imagine that the applied sciences and know-how gained from this new problem can probably be utilized instantly to our future mass manufacturing electrical autos, corresponding to an electrical flagship sports activities mannequin, and electrification applied sciences in varied areas, together with eVTOL which is at the moment beneath analysis and improvement.
“Honda and our new associate, the Aston Martin F1 Team, share the identical honest perspective and willpower to win, so beginning with the 2026 season, we’ll work collectively and try for the Championship title as Aston Martin Aramco Honda.
AMF1 Team has in the present day introduced it’s getting into right into a works partnership with Honda from 2026.
The Japanese producer will provide energy models to the workforce from the 2026 season.
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— Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) May 24, 2023
Aston Martin proprietor Lawrence Stroll mentioned: “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.”
Koji Watanabe, President of Honda Racing Corporation – the racing division of Honda which is able to run the challenge – added: “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.”
Group CEO of Aston Martin Performance Technologies Martin Whitmarsh added: “The new 2026 F1 energy unit laws are an enormous and necessary change, however one which we’re assured we will navigate efficiently collectively. Jointly with our strategic associate Aramco, we will look ahead to open collaboration in the direction of a typical aim.
“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 1. 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.”
