The 2026 Formula 1 regulations are shaking up the grid before they even take effect, and at the center of the storm is Honda Racing Corporation (HRC). With a major power unit (PU) overhaul looming, Honda President Koji Watanabe admits his engineers are in the fight of their lives to develop a competitive hybrid system in time for their exclusive partnership with Aston Martin.
“We are fighting. Now we are doing our best to show the result next year.”
But after a rocky F1 past, a technical minefield ahead, and growing concerns over their progress, the real question is—will Honda’s 2026 engine be a championship contender, or another disaster waiting to happen?
Honda’s 2026 Power Unit: A Massive Engineering Gamble
Honda’s new hybrid powertrain is set to feature:
🔹 A 355 kW (475 hp) electric motor, more than double the current hybrid output.
🔹 A lighter battery that remains a major development challenge.
🔹 A small, ultra-compact combustion engine producing around 475 hp—a huge reduction from today’s nearly 800 hp monsters.
“Everything is new. The engine is new… also the light battery, which is not so easy to develop… and also the small engine with big power.” – Koji Watanabe
The hybrid system’s increased role in power delivery is uncharted territory for all manufacturers, but Honda’s struggles mirror those at Red Bull Powertrains-Ford, where early testing has already revealed major hurdles in adapting to the new framework.
From Dominance to Uncertainty: Honda’s High-Stakes Bet
Honda currently supplies one of the most powerful engines in F1, second only to Ferrari, and easily ahead of Mercedes and Renault. Since their horror show with McLaren (2015-2017), Honda has completely flipped the script, powering Red Bull to back-to-back dominant seasons, including an unprecedented 21 wins from 22 races in 2023.
However, 2026 resets the playing field. Past dominance guarantees nothing, and Honda’s engineers are now battling against time and technology.
Adrian Newey’s Warning: Get It Right, or Get Left Behind
As if Honda didn’t have enough pressure, legendary F1 designer Adrian Newey has sounded the alarm:
“There is the possibility that someone comes with a dominant combustion engine that lasts the whole regulation because it is difficult for the others to catch up coming from behind.”
Translation? If Honda misfires early, Aston Martin’s dream of becoming a title-winning force could be dead before it even begins.
Newey—expected to play a crucial role in Aston Martin’s 2026 car design—is likely watching Honda’s struggles with concern. If the Japanese manufacturer doesn’t deliver, Aston Martin risks becoming the next McLaren-Honda 2.0—plagued by underperformance, reliability disasters, and humiliating setbacks.
Will Alonso Be Calling It a “GP2 Engine” Again?
No discussion of Honda’s F1 history is complete without recalling Fernando Alonso’s infamous rant in 2015, when he labeled the struggling Honda power unit a “GP2 engine”—a brutal insult that haunted the company for years.
Aston Martin’s star driver could once again find himself at the mercy of Honda’s engineering, and if their 2026 PU doesn’t deliver, don’t be surprised if Alonso repeats history with another scathing radio message.
The Verdict: Boom or Bust for Honda in 2026?
Honda has the resources, knowledge, and recent success to build a great engine, but the early warning signs of development struggles can’t be ignored.
✅ If they get it right? Aston Martin could emerge as a serious championship threat.
❌ If they get it wrong? It could doom the project before it even starts.
The stakes couldn’t be higher—will Honda rise to the occasion, or will Aston Martin regret putting their future in the hands of an engine supplier with a volatile history?
The 2026 season is still far away, but the battle has already begun.