Aston Martin F1 Team AMR24, driven by Lance Stroll from Canada, participated in the Japanese Grand Prix during the Formula 1 World Championship on April 6, 2024. Honda, the Japanese automotive company, has revealed its ambition to compete for the Formula 1 World Championship as soon as its partnership with Aston Martin commences in 2026.
Honda’s return to Formula 1 in 2015 was met with disappointment due to the lack of competitiveness and reliability of their engines, leading McLaren to terminate the agreement prematurely. However, their collaboration with Red Bull proved to be a turning point, resulting in three Drivers’ Championships and two Constructors’ Championships for the Austrian team.
Despite their success, Honda’s decision to withdraw from Formula 1 at the end of 2021 prompted Red Bull to establish its own Powertrains division, eliminating the possibility of renewing their partnership. Consequently, Honda has chosen to join forces with Aston Martin to ensure its continued involvement in the sport once new power unit and aero regulations are implemented.
Lawrence Stroll, the owner of Aston Martin and team principal, considers this alliance crucial in his pursuit of leading the team to the pinnacle of Formula 1. When asked about Aston Martin’s aspirations, Koji Watanabe, the President of Honda Racing Corporation, stated that their goal is to become World Champions starting from 2026.
“We understand that achieving this will be extremely challenging and not a simple task, but we need ambitious objectives to motivate us to work together with Aston Martin,” Watanabe explained. “Therefore, in collaboration with Stroll and Toshihiro Mibe, the CEO and President of Honda, we have set the target to aim for the world championship in that year. In reality, it will be a challenging endeavor.”
Watanabe acknowledges that Aston Martin and Honda both have their own deficiencies that they must address in order to achieve their shared goals. He recognizes the need for open and honest communication between the two parties to identify and rectify these shortcomings. Watanabe reveals that Honda had received interest from various teams, but ultimately chose to partner with Aston Martin due to their ambitious plans and impressive facilities. He praises Aston Martin’s commitment to becoming title winners and highlights their state-of-the-art headquarters as a testament to Lawrence Stroll’s determination. Watanabe emphasizes the collaborative nature of their partnership and the shared vision of both teams. He mentions the establishment of a technical working team and steering committee to address important matters and work towards improvement.