Since 2009, the Silverstone-based team have been a customer outfit of Mercedes; however, this will all change in 2026 when the new engine regulations are introduced.

Aston Martin will become a works Honda team, meaning they’ll be receiving factory support from the iconic manufacturer who are currently powering Red Bull and AlphaTauri.

Becoming a works team is a big step in the right direction for Aston Martin, as they’ll have more control over the likes of their engine, gearbox and rear suspension.

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Of course, there is no guarantee that Honda’s engine in 2026 will be as good as the one which powered Red Bull to 21 victories this year, although everything is being done to ensure Aston Martin will be in a great position come the start of the new regulations.

Krack has revealed that the “first step” in Aston Martin’s new relationship with Honda has already been completed, with working groups having been set up already.

The team boss has stressed that the relationship is already “one step further” though, as the “working groups are working together”.

There is plenty of communication between Aston Martin and Honda, despite the fact the team’s 2026 car cannot be started on until 2025, something which was recently announced by the FIA.

Nevertheless, the two companies are already “exchanging experiences” and forming a solid relationship.

“The first step that had to be done was to set up some working groups for the different areas to define responsibilities, the usual stuff that you do when you have a technical partnership,” Krack told media including RacingNews365.

“We are already one step further that than that, the working groups are working together.

“[We’re looking at] different areas, exploring exchanging experiences and doing simulation work together.

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“And then [we’re] also updating each other: what is happening on the PU regulation side?

“What is happening on the chassis regulation side? Is there something that we need to drive in common?

“So, all these kind of stuff is going on at the moment.”

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Tsunoda recently signed a one-year extension with Red Bull sister side AlphaTauri, keeping him in the Red Bull family until at least the end of 2024.

However, it’s been reported that Aston Martin are interested in the driver possibly for 2026, when they become a Honda works team.

The Japanese manufacturer have supported Tsunoda’s career and are believed to be keen to continue working with the driver, something Honda’s racing chief Koji Watanabe has even admitted.

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Honda’s move to Aston Martin in 2026 comes as Red Bull will enter the new power unit regulations as their own powertrain supplier, with technical support from Ford.

With Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin contract expiring at the end of 2024, then Tsunoda could even complete the switch in 2025; however, Marko has stressed that for it to happen any sooner, then a deal must be struck with Red Bull.

“Tsunoda is under contract with us,” Marko told F1 Insider. “If Aston Martin were interested in him as early as next year, they would first have to come to an agreement with us.”

Tsunoda is more than aware of the speculation linking him to Aston Martin and it appears that he’s not a particular fan of it.

He’s concerned that the rumours will make Red Bull think he’s focusing on Aston Martin, something he insists isn’t true.

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Tsunoda is intent on fighting for a potential future seat in the main Red Bull team and wants to be considered for a promotion in 2025, with him hoping that the Austrians consider his “future seriously”.

“I don’t want Red Bull to misunderstand something – for example, that I’m just focusing now on Aston Martin or anything,” Tsunoda said, as reported by The Mirror.

“I’m in AlphaTauri and I’ve been with Red Bull since I was 18 years old. I’m focusing on performing for Red Bull. Not for Aston Martin or something like that.

“Hopefully [Red Bull] haven’t misunderstood those things and hopefully they really consider my future seriously. If I perform better than other drivers then hopefully they consider [me] more.”

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The move represents a strategic shift for the team, which currently relies on customer Mercedes engines. 

Despite a promising start to the 2023 season as Red Bull’s closest rival, Aston Martin’s performance has waned due to the advancements made by established works teams like Mercedes and Ferrari through in-season developments.

Team boss Mike Krack candidly admitted to the challenges faced by Aston Martin, stating, “Our updates have not been as successful as we expected. 

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“We wonder if our methods and direction of development were correct, so the necessary changes will have to be made for the future.”

However, Aston Martin has taken proactive steps to secure its place in the upper echelons of Formula 1. 

The team has invested in a new factory and is in the process of establishing an on-site wind tunnel. Simultaneously, preparations are underway for the upcoming collaboration with Honda.

Aston Martin’s engineering boss, Luca Furbatto, who was recruited from Alfa Romeo-Sauber, shed light on the team’s transition, stating, “Currently, we are purchasing the gearbox and the rear suspension from Mercedes. 

In 2026, we will reach works team status with Honda. 

“Much will change, and we will need to carry out a number of new projects for the car.”

The aspirations of Aston Martin are clear: to join the ranks of Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull as a bona fide top team in Formula 1. 

Furbatto emphasised the significance of this transformation, particularly with Honda as their engine partner.

“In the past, it has not been the case, but since the introduction of hybrid power units, only works teams have won the world championship,” Furbatto noted. 

“We’re very happy with what we receive from Mercedes; however, in terms of car architecture, we’re partially led by Mercedes. 

“We receive the dimensions of the power unit, gearbox, and rear end, so we have to adapt the design of our car around what they provide to us.”

Furbatto outlined the team’s vision for 2026, emphasising control and independence: “By 2026, with a power unit from Honda and our own gearbox, we’ll have control of our own destiny. 

“If we want to take the next step towards winning, this is what we have to do.”

The transition to becoming a works team involves collaboration with Honda, and Furbatto revealed that discussions are already in progress. 

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While acknowledging that it’s still early days for Honda, he expressed optimism about the rapid development of the 2026 engine.

“As you can appreciate, for them, it is still early days, but the 2026 engine is developing rapidly,” Furbatto shared. 

“We’re exchanging ideas, and they’re responding incredibly positively.”

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This strategic move comes as their performance in the 2023 season fell short of expectations, despite initially challenging Red Bull for supremacy.

Aston Martin’s Team Principal, Mike Krack, acknowledged their performance shortcomings, stating, “Our updates have not been as successful as we expected.” 

Krack hinted at a need for a change in development strategies, remarking, “We wonder if our methods and direction of development were correct, so the necessary changes will have to be made for the future.”

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To bolster their efforts, Aston Martin has invested in a new factory and plans to establish an on-site wind tunnel. 

Furthermore, preparations for the collaboration with Honda are already in progress. 

Aston Martin’s Engineering Boss, Luca Furbatto, explained, “Currently, we are purchasing the gearbox and the rear suspension from Mercedes. 

“In 2026, we will reach works team status with Honda, and much will change as we embark on new projects for the car.”

Aston Martin has set its sights on joining the elite ranks of Formula 1, aiming to compete with teams like Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull. Furbatto emphasised the significance of this move, stating, “Since the introduction of hybrid power units, only works teams have won the world championship. 

By 2026, with a power unit from Honda and our own gearbox, we’ll have control of our own destiny. 

“If we want to take the next step towards winning, this is what we have to do.”

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Furbatto revealed that discussions with Honda are already underway, demonstrating the commitment to the partnership. 

“Meetings and catch-ups with Honda are already taking place,” he said. 

“The 2026 engine is developing rapidly, and we’re exchanging ideas, with Honda responding incredibly positively.”

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Although the Japanese marque withdrew from the sport after 2021, it maintained its association with Red Bull through the subsidiary Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) in collaboration with the team’s newly established “Red Bull Powertrains” project.

However, Honda will make a full-fledged return as a works engine manufacturer in conjunction with Aston Martin from 2026, coinciding with the introduction of the all-new engine regulations that will significantly enhance the role of electric components. 

HRC President Koji Watanabe emphasized that Honda seeks to have a more extensive involvement in Formula 1, not only on the track but also off it.

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“It’s a contract with the team (Aston Martin), so I can’t discuss it in detail,” Watanabe stated.

“But power unit suppliers bear expenses for development and manufacturing without receiving income from F1 due to the Concorde Agreement. 

“Additionally, in terms of marketing activities, the constructors primarily control the teams, limiting the authority of power unit suppliers until now.”

Watanabe highlighted the need to review the existing contract to address these concerns and create a more favourable environment for Honda’s continued participation in Formula 1. 

He expressed the intention to increase opportunities for Honda to have a voice and collaborate with the team, thereby granting the company a stronger position.

“At the outset of our next project, we will reassess the contract in this area, increase the chances for us to express our views, and consult with the team to establish an environment that facilitates Honda’s ongoing commitment to F1,” added Watanabe.

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The proposed changes put forth by Watanabe aim to shield Honda’s racing subsidiary from the pressures of decision-making within the parent company. 

He suggested that these adjustments would serve as a stepping stone towards achieving self-sustaining profitability in the future.

“In the future, we should aim for self-supporting profitability, and you can think of it as the first step towards that,” Watanabe concluded.

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It was recently announced that Aston Martin wouldn’t be extending their deal with Mercedes to take them into the new power unit regulations in 2026, with the Silverstone-based side having announced a deal with Japanese manufacturer Honda.

2025 will therefore mark the end of Aston Martin’s time as a Mercedes customer team, bringing a 17-year relationship to an end.

The Silver Arrows started supplying Aston Martin with power units back in 2009, when the side were known as Force India.

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Honda have, of course, developed an incredible engine with Red Bull since the start of the new aerodynamic regulations, perhaps hinting at why Aston Martin have partnered with the Japanese company.

Honda themselves had been searching for a team to partner in 2026, given that Red Bull will be offered technical support by Ford when the new regs kick-in.

Wolff is certain that the switch from Mercedes to Honda has nothing to do with performance, with the Austrian believing that Aston Martin simply want to become a “true works team”.

“I don’t think them switching from a Mercedes client situation to a Honda has anything to do with the power unit,” said Wolff, as reported by The Mirror.

“I think we are competitive in terms of power unit, but they always wanted to emancipate themselves and become a true works team, and that’s what they’re doing.

“They have their own exclusive power unit supply deal, they have their own fuel supplier, they are building a big factory that’s going online in the next few months.

“Lawrence [Stroll, team owner]’s aim is never small. I think when you want to be competitive and win championships, that is the kind of step that you need to make.”

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It might not just be Aston Martin that Mercedes are losing for 2026, with Williams and McLaren yet to commit to the German manufacturer’s power units for the new regs.

McLaren have been linked to Red Bull powertrains for 2026, with CEO Zak Brown having recently visited Red Bull’s factory.

The Woking-based side have kept it no secret that they are considering their options, a situation will likely develop over the coming months.

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When Formula 1 enters the new era of engine regulations, Honda will return full time to the sport, providing engines exclusively to Aston Martin through a works power unit deal.

While Alonso is only locked into a contract with Aston Martin until 2024, he could find himself working with Honda should he choose to extend his current deal.

Alonso previously worked with Honda during his tough tenure at McLaren, infamously publicly bashing Honda’s power unit as a “GP2 engine” before quitting the sport all together, taking a two year break from Formula 1.

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This controversial past relationship has raised questions about whether Honda would tolerate Aston Martin retaining Alonso in the 2026 season or if the Spaniard would want to work with the manufacturer again.

However, both sides have backed one another following the partnership announcement, with Honda’s boss calling Alonso a “genius” who they “respect highly.”

“If the team decides we’ll have Alonso as a driver again, we will have no objections whatsoever on him driving,” Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe said.

“We have been accelerating our development during our recent time in Formula 1 while working with Alonso, and that enabled us to win the World Championship.”

“I never thought Fernando was a problem in terms of our relationship with Honda,” Fernandez told Auto Sport.

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“I remember that he has said some harsh things in the past, but they were not directed only at Honda, and if there was a technical problem, he has always pointed it out to other people besides Honda.

“He still respects Honda and its staff. I think this can be seen in the fact that at the final race in Abu Dhabi in 2021, Fernando visited the Honda staff and encouraged them to ‘win the championship’.”

When Alonso appeared during the interview with Auto Sport, he was asked directly about possibly working with Honda by extending his deal at Aston Martin, joking that his “contract is very expensive.”

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Honda provided Red Bull with engines up until the end of the 2021 season, when the manufacturer announced it would be stepping away from the sport.

The decision saw Red Bull establish their own engine division before Honda backed down from quitting Formula 1, continuing to support the reigning world champions until 2025.

The new deal with Aston Martin will see Honda completely reverse course and return full time as an engine manufacturer, encouraged by the increased focus on sustainability in Formula 1.

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Red Bull driver and title-leader Max Verstappen seemed disappointed by the whole situation with Honda, claiming that he “loved working” with the company over the past few years.

“From our side, of course, it’s a bit unfortunate how all of that turned out, because a few years ago, they say we’re going to stop, so then Red Bull sets up its own engine division, and then at one point they say no, we continue.

“Unfortunately, once you’re already in the process of building a whole engine yourself, you can’t really work together anymore. It’s a bit of a shame, I would say.

“We always have and had a really good relationship with them. And then seeing them go to Aston Martin is a bit of a shame. But, we are also very excited from our side from 2026 onwards to see what’s going to happen together with Ford.

“It is what it is. A few years ago, we thought they were going to leave, now they stay and they go with Aston Martin. For Aston Martin, it’s really good, they have a great engine, we all know that. So it is what it is.

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“I love working with them, we’ve had a lot of success already, so of course I will be sad to see them go at one point, but we already expected that right?

“Because they said we’re going to pull out, so we already had a kind of a goodbye. But yeah, it is what it is. Of course, I’m happy for the Honda people that they stay in Formula 1, but sad to see them go.”

The move marks Aston Martin’s latest effort to establish themselves as a potential champion winning team, as they push Red Bull for podiums in the 2023 season.

While Red Bull is undoubtedly the leaders this year, Aston Martin are the most impressive performer, having jumped from P7 last year to P2 this year, with four podiums in five races.

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Aston Martin and Honda announced this week that they will work together from 2026, with the manufacturer exclusively providing Aston Martin with engines in the new era of rules.

Alonso had a tricky relationship with Honda in the past during his stint at McLaren, where he criticised the engines and overall car performance, eventually choosing to leave the sport for two years.

Despite Alonso’s previous comments, Honda’s President Toshihiro Sanbe doesn’t have any qualms about working with the Spaniard, stating that the “past story is the past story.”

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“Alonso is a genius driver and a driver that Honda respects,” Sanbe added.

Alonso is only under contract with Aston Martin until 2024 and hasn’t committed to racing beyond that but it’s clear the Spaniard is enjoying his career comeback.

“We have not yet started negotiations with the team regarding the contract after 2026,” Alonso’s manager said recently.

“But there is no doubt that Aston Martin’s contract with Honda will be a strong motivation to continue driving.”

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Having taken four podiums in five races, Alonso appears comfortable at his new team, praising their design for giving him a competitive car.

Although still chasing that illusive 33^rd Grand Prix victory, Alonso is focused on taking a third world title, only 44 points behind title-leader Max Verstappen.

With Monaco a track that might favour Aston Martin’s setup, Alonso will be keen to show he can still take P1 when the opportunity arises. 

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Whilst it had been speculated, it was officially confirmed Wednesday morning that Honda will become Aston Martin’s official engine supplier from 2026, when the new power unit regulations are introduced.

The deal comes at an ideal time for both parties, with Honda’s deal with Red Bull concluding at the end of 2025, as does Aston Martin’s deal to be a Mercedes customer outfit.

Honda’s announcement confirmed two things: that they’d be partnering Aston Martin from 2026, and that they would be ending their partnership with Red Bull.

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The latter was known but not officially confirmed, with Red Bull having announced a new technical partnership with Ford for 2026 at the start of the season.

Despite the new partnerships starting in 2026, Honda have reassured Red Bull that their current deal will be respected, whilst Marko warned Aston Martin what the manufacturer are like to work with.

“We have received written assurances that the priority will not change until 2025 and that they – like us – will continue to work with full commitment to win more World Championships,” Marko told Motorsport-Magazin.com.

“Honda is very restrictive with their communications as far as the engine is concerned. The intellectual property and all that is exclusive to Honda and we don’t get any detailed information.”

Honda have made life very difficult for Red Bull in recent years, with the Japanese company having announced in 2021 that they’d be leaving the sport.

Given that they were Red Bull’s and AlphaTauri’s engine supplier, this caught the Austrians very much off-guard, with Red Bull having been keen to avoid becoming a customer team again.

This is largely why they opened their own powertrains department, with Red Bull to power themselves from 2026.

Honda quickly made a U-turn and decided to return to F1 just a few months after announcing their departure, with the Japanese manufacturer having confirmed that they’d be an engine supplier in 2026.

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With Red Bull having started working on their own powertrains, though, they weren’t interested in Honda’s engines for 2026, with a “common path” having not been found when discussing a potential partnership for the new regs.

“The departure [from Honda] was not involuntary, we first had to react,” Marko said. “And then, when Honda decided last year to continue, there was no more common path that would have been satisfying for both of us.

“There were talks about a possible cooperation, but we couldn’t agree with Honda on who would do what.”

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