Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) announced the creation of Honda Racing Corporation UK Ltd (HRC UK) in preparation for its partnership with Aston Martin in Formula 1. In May 2023, Aston Martin and Honda agreed on a deal for Honda to supply Power Units (PU) to the Formula 1 team based in Silverstone starting in 2026. This agreement will transform Aston Martin from a Mercedes customer to a factory team in the near future. The establishment of HRC UK will mainly focus on post-race maintenance and pre-race preparation for Honda’s PUs in Aston Martin’s F1 cars from 2026. HRC UK will also handle Honda’s logistics throughout Europe. Hiring engineers, technicians, and other team members will begin in the spring of 2024 to support the foundation of HRC UK. This move demonstrates Honda’s renewed commitment to Formula 1 following its success with Red Bull in 2021.
The future PU regulations of 2026 led Honda to change its approach in F1. Although the engine freeze allowed Red Bull to continue using Honda’s PUs in 2022, Honda decided to fully participate in F1 again with the new regulations. This decision led to the partnership with Aston Martin and positioned Honda as a PU supplier alongside Ferrari, Mercedes, Renault, Audi, and Red Bull Powertrains in 2026. The 2026 Power Units will retain the turbo V6 1.6-liter internal combustion engine (ICE) but will be fueled by 100% sustainable fuel. The MGU-H system will be eliminated, and the overall electrification of the PU will be increased, with a 50/50 split between ICE and electric power.
