Honda will enter into a partnership with Aston Martin in 2026, with ambitious goals set by Watanabe for their first year together. They aim to make a strong push for the Title in Formula 1.
Despite a difficult start in the turbo-hybrid era when they returned to F1 with McLaren in 2015, Honda made a remarkable comeback. Since 2021, they have enjoyed Title success with Red Bull, including two consecutive Title doubles in 2022 and are currently fighting for a third.
Looking ahead to 2026, Watanabe provided some insight into Honda’s preparations for their new power unit. This unit will feature a 50/50 ratio between internal combustion and electric power, with a particular focus on improving their electric engine capabilities.
In an interview with Motorsport.com, Watanabe stated, “Our main focus at the moment is on the electric engine parts and battery. While we are also developing the internal combustion engine, it is currently a single cylinder, not yet a V6.”
He expressed confidence in the progress they have made so far, stating that everything is on track and in line with their expectations. However, he was unable to provide specific details at this stage.
Honda withdrew from F1 at the end of 2021 but later decided to return as a power unit supplier to Red Bull and VCARB. They have also registered as a power unit supplier from 2026 onwards. However, their initial departure from the sport resulted in the transfer of many F1 personnel to other projects. As a result, Honda had to recruit new staff in preparation for 2026.
Watanabe explained the challenges they faced, saying, “When we announced our decision to stop our F1 activities, most of the engineers left the F1 department. We had to fill these positions again, although not all with the same individuals. It took some time to find suitable replacements for certain roles.”
With Aston Martin becoming their official partner from 2026, Honda has decided to establish a company in the United Kingdom to better serve their partner’s needs. The company, known as HRC UK, has been registered, although the exact location is yet to be determined.
Watanabe revealed that the purpose of registering the company is to facilitate the hiring of staff in the UK. He mentioned that the process may take some time due to contractual obligations, but they plan to start recruiting staff in England during the summer.