Alonso, after renewing his contract with Aston Martin, will be competing with Honda power in 2026, as Formula 1 enters a new era of power unit and car regulations.
This will not be the first time the Spanish driver has been supported by the Japanese company, although all parties involved are hoping for a better outcome compared to their initial collaboration.
Alonso was behind the wheel for McLaren when Honda made their return to F1 during the turbo-hybrid era, supplying power units to the Woking-based team from 2015 to 2017. Unfortunately, this partnership turned out to be a disaster.
Honda was ill-prepared for their comeback, as they were pressured by McLaren to expedite their return. The power units they provided were both unreliable and lacking in performance. Despite McLaren’s claims that their chassis was exceptional, it was revealed that this was not the case when they switched to Renault power in 2018 following their split with Honda.
During this period, Alonso openly criticized Honda, reaching a climax during the 2015 Japanese Grand Prix, where he referred to their power unit as a “GP2 Engine.”
However, with Honda now becoming Aston Martin’s power unit supplier starting in 2026 and Alonso extending his contract, many believed this could pose a problem.
Nevertheless, Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe dismisses any concerns about their past relationship with the two-time F1 Champion.
In an interview with Motorsport.com, he stated, “When I worked with him from 2015 to 2017, it was an extremely challenging situation for both Honda and the team. It was a period of great frustration in our history, and there were moments when our relationship was strained. However, I believe we have become stronger by overcoming those difficulties. Alonso has also been actively involved since then.”
“I am pleased that we can overcome that painful experience together and unite in our pursuit of victory once more. I have high hopes that we can work towards the championship as a team and emerge victorious,” expressed the Japanese engineer.
Watanabe disclosed that they had limited interaction with Alonso after securing their power unit supply agreement with Aston Martin, with whom they have also discussed potential drivers.
“I had a conversation with him in Las Vegas,” he shared. “At that time, Alonso had not yet made a decision about his next contract. However, he joined us while we were in discussion with team principal Mike Krack. He wished us luck and expressed a desire to race together if the opportunity arises. Our conversation was brief.”
Watanabe further revealed, “We engaged in numerous discussions with Aston Martin regarding our partnership, commencing in 2026. Throughout this period, we exchanged viewpoints on drivers, and both Honda and Aston Martin agreed that Alonso is undoubtedly a top-class driver.”
“Aston Martin inquired about any potential objections from Honda if they were to extend Alonso’s contract. We kept them informed at various stages, but Honda did not make any specific requests in this regard. Ultimately, the team decided to extend Alonso’s contract after considering the type of driver lineup necessary for success,” Watanabe concluded.
Following their challenging experience with McLaren, Honda went on to supply power units to Toro Rosso (now RB) in 2018 and later to Red Bull Racing in 2019. This new partnership resulted in two F1 Constructors’ Championships (2022, 2023) and three Drivers’ Titles for Max Verstappen (2021, 2022, 2023).