Formula 1 is going to undergo a new change in regulations from 2026, and expectations about the different engines are starting to create debate. Antonio Lobato, during DAZN’s broadcast of the free practice sessions, commented that Mercedes and Ferrfari have better positioned the creation of their power units than Honda, which compromises Aston Martin in its desire to become a benchmark team. On the contrary, he says that Adrian Newey has full confidence in the Japanese team’s ability to step up to the challenge. His experience with Red Bull corroborates this.
Honda, a risky bet for Aston Martin
Aston Martin’s decision to leave Mercedes and partner with Honda from 2026 has generated controversy. Antonio Lobato has insisted on DAZN that the change of engine could be a mistake, as the signs currently being extracted from the change in regulations suggest that Ferrari and Mercedes would be at the forefront of performance for next year, with more advanced and optimized development. The president of Honda Racing Corporation, Koji Watanabe, already raised doubts about the situation after an interview in which he stated that the power unit for 2026 is proving more complicated than they thought: “There is no easy way”. In this way he implied that the Japanese manufacturer may enter the new era of F1 with a certain amount of ballast.
Adrian Newey trusts Honda for 2026
Adrian Newey, considered the best engineer in the history of F1, has confidence in Honda and Aston Martin, despite the uncertainty of engine evolution. His experience with the Japanese brand’s team at Red Bull has shown him that they are capable of recovering and creating competitive power units.
Adrian Newey understands that in the end it seems that Mercedes and Ferrari are the ones who are in the lead, but he has no doubt that they can surprise with the Honda engine, helped by a new aerodynamic concept that contributes to a drastic change in Aston Martin, together with McLaren, so that they are true rivals in 2026. But time is pressing for the Honda brand, which will have to make the most of the scarce resources available to it in order to match the level of its competitors.
Honda’s challenge in the face of competition
This is not the first time that Honda has had to face challenges in F1; the Japanese manufacturer sweated to solve technical problems before achieving victory with Red Bull, enabling Max Verstappen to win four world championships. Honda’s challenge is to learn and evolve. The new engine regulations radically change the way engines work.
Honda’s goal is to have its engine homologated by February 2026, just before the start of the 2026 F1 World Championship, which will limit its ability to work and organize each phase of development conveniently; in parallel, Mercedes and Ferrari, although lagging behind in the first tests, are moving forward faster and have an advantage, which puts them in a better position for the new era of Formula 1.
The teams already have their eyes on 2026 and are working to get the cars ready for the new regulations; it seems that Mercedes and Ferrari are one step ahead, and it remains to be seen if Honda is capable of making up lost ground and producing a power unit capable of placing Aston Martin among the best teams in the championship. It is Fernando Alonso’s last chance to become champion again.