Honda are “open” to supplying additional F1 teams beyond Aston Martin, keeping future opportunities on the table
In 2026, Honda will embark on a new chapter in Formula 1, ending their partnership with Red Bull Racing, embarking on a new chapter with Aston Martin.
However, whilst the Japanese manufacturer remains committed to this partnership, they have not ruled out the possibility of expanding its base in the future.
The 2026 season will introduce significant changes to the sport. Introducing lighter cars and new power unit regulations, featuring a near 50/50 power split between the internal combustion engine and electric energy. This will increase the electrical output from 120kW to 350kW while reducing combustion power to approximately 400kW.
These technical changes have ultimately posed challenges to many teams, with Honda making steady progress in its development. Tetsushi Kakuda, the leader of Honda’s F1 project, provided insight into their preparations, stating:
“We are aiming to submit the homologation in February next year. Since we had a slightly late start, we want to push forward until the very last moment. However, I believe we have reached a considerable stage.”
Kakuda emphasised the importance of adapting to evolving fuel technologies.
“Regarding how we handle high-speed combustion, fuel-related factors come into play. The environment is changing drastically, and things will not work the same way as before. Our goal remains to burn fuel as efficiently as possible, and we are creating an environment to achieve that.”
Customer teams on the cards for Honda?
While Honda’s immediate focus is on developing a strong factory partnership with Aston Martin, Koji Watanabe, President of Honda Motorsport Corporation, acknowledged that expanding their power unit supply is a major possibility in the coming years.
“We are a racing company. If the opportunity arises to supply powertrains to multiple teams, we would like to pursue it,” Watanabe stated. “At this point, we have no plans to supply our engines to multiple teams, but we are not fundamentally ruling anything out.”
While Honda’s focus remains firmly on delivering a competitive power unit to Aston Martin, Watanabe hinted at the potential for future expansion.
“We are currently supplying several teams with drives, and when the situation stabilises, we should consider expanding in this direction. However, this is not currently actively part of our planning.”
For the seasons ahead, Honda’s priority is Aston Martin, ensuring the team and the power unit are competitive under the new regulations.
However, an expansion of its current operations is a possibility for the highly decorated engine manufacturer.
Feature Image Credit: F1.com
