Aston Martin will use Honda as its power source in the 2026 F1 season, which means Fernando Alonso will once again be collaborating with the Japanese manufacturer. However, reflecting on his previous experience with McLaren from 2015 to 2017, it is clear that Alonso’s time with Honda was far from ideal. The Japanese company struggled to provide reliable and powerful power units, resulting in a tense relationship that ultimately led to a split at the end of the 2017 season. Alonso did not hold back on criticisms, even referring to the power unit as a “GP2 engine” during the 2015 Japanese Grand Prix. Nevertheless, with his renewed partnership with Aston Martin, Alonso believes that this time things will be different.
During a press interview, Alonso shared his thoughts on Honda, acknowledging its significant contribution to Formula 1 and motorsport as a whole. Although the collaboration with McLaren did not yield positive results, he believes that Honda has addressed its issues since then and established a solid foundation for the future. Alonso visited Honda’s facilities in Sakura in 2014, 2015, and 2016, witnessing firsthand their motivation and determination. He also expressed interest in trying Aramco fuel, highlighting the advantageous situation this partnership presents. Alonso’s recent race in Japan, where he finished sixth, coincided with the announcement of his contract renewal with Aston Martin.
When asked why the decision was not made earlier, Alonso attributed it to the demanding nature of his commitments, such as car launches, catalogs, and photo shoots. He wanted to make sure he was truly enjoying his work and that progress was being made with the team. If there were no signs of improvement, he would have considered exploring other options. However, Alonso remains optimistic about the future, stating that the team is progressing with each update. He highlighted the transformation of the team facilities, comparing them to top teams like Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes. Alonso also expressed his admiration for Japanese culture and his positive experiences working with Honda and Toyota. In the end, he believes that Honda’s power unit is a strong engine that will contribute to his success, based on his victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race with Toyota in 2018 and 2019.
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