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Honda’s Secret F1 Talks: Why the Japanese Giant Chose Aston Martin Over Other Teams

Simon Monroy by Simon Monroy
February 13, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0
Honda’s Secret F1 Talks: Why the Japanese Giant Chose Aston Martin Over Other Teams

Before committing to Aston Martin, Honda held discussions with multiple Formula 1 teams. Now, the Japanese marque faces a steep challenge ahead of the 2026 regulations.

Honda’s return to Formula 1 has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. After an embarrassing start with McLaren in 2015, the Japanese manufacturer redeemed itself with Red Bull, powering Max Verstappen to four consecutive world championships.

But after unexpectedly stepping away in 2021, Honda is now gearing up for another full-scale comeback—this time with Aston Martin as its official works partner for 2026.

What most fans didn’t know, however, is that Honda had multiple suitors before sealing the deal with Aston Martin.

Honda Spoke With “Several” F1 Teams Before Choosing Aston Martin

In a recent interview with Motorsport.com, Koji Watanabe, President of Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), revealed that multiple F1 teams had reached out about a potential partnership for 2026.

“Some teams contacted us, as they were interested in working with Honda. We talked to those parties and made a decision,” Watanabe explained.

Honda officially registered as a 2026 power unit supplier with the FIA in November 2022—and from that moment, teams began to circle.

“I cannot give you the exact number, but several teams. With some of those, we only had contact once. With others, we met several times.”

While Honda didn’t disclose which teams were involved, speculation suggests that names like Williams, McLaren, and even Ferrari (for its customer teams) could have been in the mix.

Why Honda Chose Aston Martin Over Red Bull or Other Teams

Honda’s previous partnership with Red Bull was a massive success—but the relationship was always complicated.

✅ Four straight world titles (2021-2024)
✅ Red Bull’s dominance in the ground-effect era
✅ Honda’s engineering prowess behind the RB19—the most dominant car in F1 history

So why did Honda walk away from Red Bull?

The biggest reason was Red Bull Powertrains (RBPT).

After Honda’s 2021 exit, Red Bull created its own engine division, RBPT, to take over Honda’s existing power unit design. But when Red Bull announced a 2026 partnership with Ford, Honda knew it needed to find a new home.

Enter Aston Martin.

The Silverstone-based squad has been rapidly rising in F1 with significant investment from Lawrence Stroll. Now, with Honda’s full factory backing, Aston Martin is positioning itself as a genuine title contender for 2026 and beyond.

Honda Faces Early Struggles with 2026 Engine Development

Despite securing a works deal with Aston Martin, Honda is already facing serious challenges with the new 2026 engine regulations.

“We are struggling,” Watanabe admitted in an interview with PlanetF1.
“Everything is new… the motor, the lightweight battery, and the small engine with big power. It’s not so easy to develop.”

The 2026 regulations introduce:
⚡ More electrification (50% of power from electric motors)
⚡ Sustainable fuels
⚡ Reduced reliance on combustion engines

These massive changes have left Honda scrambling to adapt, and other engine manufacturers are likely facing similar difficulties.

What This Means for Aston Martin and Honda’s Future

Honda’s last full-time return to F1 took years of failure before success—and this time, the stakes are even higher.

Aston Martin is banking on Honda’s expertise to give them a championship-winning engine, but Honda must overcome its current development hurdles fast.

Will Honda rise to the challenge and power Aston Martin to the top, or will history repeat itself with another turbulent F1 comeback?

The 2026 season can’t come soon enough.

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