Since Honda’s announcement of its partnership with Aston Martin for 2026, uncertainty has intensified in the paddock. Red Bull has enjoyed unprecedented dominance in F1 with the Japanese brand and will now become a direct and threatening rival.
The Austrian squad does not underestimate the potential of this partnership at all, to the point that Christian Horner has already begun to assess what this new rivalry and a set of regulations that totally change the rules of competition means, which could turn Aston Martin into a real adversary for all the title contenders.
Red Bull and Honda
The 2019 union between Red Bull and Honda has become Formula 1 history. After having many problems with McLaren in its previous stage, the Japanese manufacturer found in the Milton Keynes team the perfect partner with which to develop a competitive power unit.
The culmination of this relationship came in 2021 when Max Verstappen was crowned world champion in the most evenly matched championship in recent years against Lewis Hamilton, claiming the title on the last lap of the championship. Subsequently, Red Bull dominated F1 in 2022 and 2023, setting historical records with Honda as their engine supplier. But this partnership has come to an end. Honda has chosen to partner with Aston Martin for the new 2026 regulations, a decision that will change the competitive landscape and put Red Bull on alert. “Honda is a great racing organization. Their commitment has been exceptional and their product is very strong. They will continue that journey with Aston Martin and, with the new regulations, they will continue to offer competitive engines,” Horner said.
Aston Martin threatens F1
Aston Martin wants to reach the top of Formula 1 and has already started to invest heavily to achieve it: the investment of Lawrence Stroll, the commitment to Fernando Alonso and the constant improvement of a staff to improve the car every day have put the British team in a privileged position for 2026.
With Honda as the exclusive engine supplier for Aston Martin, it has the possibility of designing a car for its engine, one of the keys to Red Bull’s success. With the union of an aspiring team with a multitude of resources together with an experienced engine manufacturer (and also with resources), we may see a new team fighting for dominance in Formula 1 in the coming years.
On the other hand, the 2026 regulations will substantially change engine technology, combining electrification and sustainable fuels more than ever before. This may mean a change in the order of competition, we will see how the teams evolve to the change, but Aston Martin is sparing no effort to place itself among the best on the grid.
How will Red Bull respond to this challenge?
Red Bull has opted for a new strategy for these new regulations with the creation of its own power unit, Red Bull Powertrains, in collaboration with Ford in preparation for the arrival of the new regulations.
For Red Bull the challenge will be to achieve the correct integration of its chassis and engine, something that has been one of its strong points over the years with Honda. The Austrian team’s experience in aerodynamic development and its ability to adapt will be determining factors in its ability to continue fighting with the best.
At the same time, F1 is on the verge of one of the most drastic transformations it has undergone in recent years. With Aston Martin and Honda working together, Red Bull and the rest of the teams such as McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes will be on tenterhooks as they await the arrival of a new contender in the fight for the championship.