Honda has already demonstrated the power and influence it has at Red Bull. And now it will do the same at Aston Martin. Because the Japanese already ‘forced’ Helmut Marko and Christian Horner to relegate Liam Lawson to the RB Racing Bulls, in order to promote Yuki Tsunoda to the main team.
Honda will be Aston Martin’s new inseparable partner on and off the track
Tsunoda, motivated by Lawson’s poor results, has become the new teammate of Max Verstappen, taking over the role that for so many years was held by Sergio Pérez who, also due to his poor results in the car that Verstappen went on to win the championship in, was fired before the start of the season, despite having a contract in force.
As such, the Japanese giant will become a motorbike manufacturer and inseparable partner of Aston Martin from 2026, the first season with a change in technical regulations in Formula 1. Statements by the brand’s president have cast doubt on the team’s driver line-up. Because yes; in addition to its involvement as a traveling companion by being a supplier to those at Silverstone, Honda plans to have a say in the choice of drivers for the team.
“It is an honor to work with Newey again at Aston Martin, we will work together to create a competitive car,” said Watanabe, president of the motor company, in The Japan Times. The firm currently supplies Red Bull, has worked for a long time with the engineer and has been a key player in the four world championships won by Max Verstappen, with whom they make no secret of their intention to continue working in the future.
“After this season, we will focus on the collaboration with Aston Martin. Honestly, I hope Honda has another opportunity to work with Max Verstappen, I hope so. I have spoken to him several times and it has always been positive,” Watanabe added a few days ago.
The teams, of course, want the greatest possible stability, with drivers who don’t have to adapt not only to the new type of car, but also to new engineers, mechanics or different working methodologies. At Aston Martin things will be no different, and everything indicates that Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll will continue together for another season next year. But everything could change by 2027. And not only with Lance Stroll’s position, but even Fernando Alonso’s.
Verstappen enters the Honda and Aston Martin equation
This is where the rumors related to the possible interest of Aston Martin in signing Max Verstappen come into play. It is true that the Dutchman is one of the few drivers who has a contract beyond 2026, specifically until 2028 with Red Bull. But it is also true that there are ways to break that contract if the driver so wishes.
That, perhaps, is where Honda comes in. Verstappen himself has never hidden his respect for both Newey and Honda. Especially knowing that, in the event that the four-time world champion does not see a winning future plan with the energy drinks team, he could force that exit.
From Aston Martin’s point of view, keeping an eye on Verstappen is not surprising. The Silverstone-based team has built a state-of-the-art factory, in which its new wind tunnel should play a crucial role. The technical team has been reinforced with Enrico Cardile and, more importantly, Adrian Newey. As Aston Martin is the only team to which the Japanese brand will supply its power units, it will become a kind of factory structure, as is now the case with Red Bull.
Fernando Alonso’s team only has two seats, compared to Red Bull’s four
In terms of drivers, the change of team also means a limitation: compared to the four seats available between Red Bull and Racing Bulls, Aston Martin only has two seats. One of them is practically assured for Lance Stroll, which complicates the options for drivers backed by HRC, such as Yuki Tsunoda or Ayumu Iwasa.
“The number of seats will be reduced. However, as far as we are concerned, we will continue to express our opinion as Honda when it comes to choosing the drivers for 2026 and beyond. Obviously, the team has the final say in deciding which drivers join… but the situation will be the same as with Red Bull, where we will have our say,” explained Watanabe.
It should be remembered that Fernando Alonso decided to leave Ferrari in 2014, seduced by the idea of a champion pairing between McLaren and Honda. The Spaniard spent three years struggling in the British team until he got the Japanese engine manufacturer to leave with very harsh statements. Along the way, the Japanese failed him even in the Indy500, with the engine breaking down when he was leading the 2017 race.
The fact is that Fernando Alonso and Honda exchanged very harsh messages after the divorce that took place at the end of 2017. The Spaniard was vetoed by the Japanese and was unable to use an engine of his own make in the next two attempts at the Indy500, being far from competitive in both 2019 and 2020.