Honda and Aston Martin to work together from 2026

Japanese car manufacturer Honda ended its factory participation in Formula 1 at the end of 2021, but continues to supply engines to Red Bull and Alpha Tauri.

This partnership will continue until the end of the 2025 season, after which the new powertrain rules will be introduced and Red Bull and Alpha Tauri will use their own units developed in partnership with Ford.

At the same time, Honda seems to have changed its mind and wants to stay in the sport after the rule change, once again as a full powertrain supplier. The problem for the Japanese, however, lies in finding a team to partner with. Earlier in the year, it was reported that McLaren CEO Zac Brown had approached Honda, but it seems those talks were not productive. Honda have also been approached by Williams, but it is likely that the Grove team will continue to work with Mercedes.

The-Race is reporting that an agreement is close that would see Honda supply PUs to @AstonMartinF1 from 2026!

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The Tokyo firm would supply PUs to the Silverstone squad in an exclusive arrangement after their contract ends with @redbullracing in 2025. https://t.co/M6uHOIFWF4

— MenaGrandPrixEN (@MenaGrandPrixEn) May 11, 2023

So the only logical move for Honda remains a partnership with Aston Martin, and according to various sources in the paddock the two sides are very close to signing an agreement. If it is actually signed, for the team from Silverstone it will be a return to Honda bikes. The team experienced their strongest years precisely with engines of the Japanese manufacturer in the period 1998-1999, when the team bore the name Jordan.