Honda has outlined that it is targeting an immediate challenge for the Formula 1 World Championship from the moment its alliance with Aston Martin begins in 2026.
Honda’s return to F1 in 2015 proved disastrous as a series of uncompetitive and unreliable engines prompted McLaren to cut short the deal prior to its expiration date.
But a tie-up with Red Bull returned the Japanese marque to the pinnacle and it has powered the Austrian outfit to three Drivers and two Constructors’ Championships.
However, Honda’s initial decision to depart F1 at the end of 2021 prompted Red Bull to commit to its own Powertrains division and ruled out a revival of the agreement.
Therefore, Honda has elected to partner with Aston Martin to preserve its participation in the sport once all-new power unit and aero regulations are implemented.
Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll, who took over the team in 2018, has viewed the impending association as essential to his dream of taking the team to the top.
Asked about the brand’s aspirations with Aston, Honda Racing Corporation President Koji Watanabe told Autosport: To become World Champion from 2026 onwards.
“We know that it will be very difficult and it is not so easy, but we need some good targets to put in our best effort together with Aston Martin.
“So, that’s why together with Stroll and Toshihiro Mibe [Honda CEO and president], we set the target to just aim for the world championship in that year. In reality, it is not so easy.”
Watanabe accepts that Aston Martin and Honda possess respective shortcomings that both parties will have to strive to address to realise their collective ambition.
“Probably we’re missing something [right now], but we have to tell each other what is missing,” he added.
“From an Aston Martin point of view what is missing on the Honda side and also what is missing on the Aston Martin side.
“That is an honest conversation to become a top-class team together.”
Watanabe has divulged that several teams were interested in working with Honda, but the manufacturer was enticed with the venture Aston Martin is putting together.
He highlighted the Silverstone-based squad’s new state-of-the-art headquarters as a prime example of Stroll’s determination to translate Aston Martin into title victors.
“After we registered as a power unit supplier for 2026 some other teams contacted us as they were interested in working with Honda,” Watanabe revealed.
“Then we talked to those parties and made a decision.
“Honda was very impressed with Mr Stroll’s strong passion and his strong leadership to fight for the World Champion in 2026.
“They invest a lot of money to establish the factory in Silverstone. We visited them to see the factory that was under construction.
“Several times we have meetings with Martin Withmarsh [Aston Martin CEO] and Mike Krack [Team Principal], so the management team.
“They are very open and the entire team is working in the same direction, it’s one united team. That is a very good image for us.
“At the same time, they also think that Honda is a good partner for them to become World Champion.
“We have already started a technical working team and also a steering committee meeting to discuss some important issues that we can maybe improve.”
