Honda is pleased to announce its renewed partnership with Fernando Alonso in Formula 1. Alonso has signed a new contract with Aston Martin, ensuring that he will continue racing with the team from the 2026 season onwards. This agreement aligns perfectly with Honda’s transition to becoming a supplier for Aston Martin. Despite their previous challenges, Honda and Alonso have put their differences behind them and are looking forward to a successful future together. Honda’s powerful engines have already contributed to Red Bull’s success, and now they aim to achieve even greater victories with Alonso and Aston Martin.
Alonso’s contract extension undoubtedly raised inquiries regarding the Spaniard’s history with Honda, but he affirmed that reuniting with the brand is “a genuine delight”.
“One of the reasons I chose to remain at Aston is because they will be partnering with Honda until 2026,” he stated.
“They have been World Champion for the past few years [with Red Bull]. So I believe they already have a solid foundation for 2026.”
The positive sentiment is reciprocated, as Watanabe mentioned that Alonso’s skill has always made him a top choice for Honda’s driver lineup in 2026.
“We had numerous discussions with Aston Martin regarding our partnership beginning in 2026,” Watanabe stated.
“During that time, we also exchanged thoughts about drivers and both Aston Martin and us agreed that Alonso is unquestionably a top-tier driver.
“Aston Martin inquired if there would be any objections from Honda if they extended Alonso’s contract. The matter was discussed at various stages.
“However, Honda did not make any demands in this regard. In any case, it is only natural for us to discuss the driver lineup necessary for victory, and it was within this context that the team decided to extend Alonso’s contract.”