All Engines No-Go! Honda Bracing For A Bumpy Start To 2026 F1 Season With Aston Martin

Honda isn’t sugar-coating what lies ahead as it returns to Formula 1 as a full works engine supplier in 2026.

With a fresh partnership alongside Aston Martin and a sweeping set of new regulations, the Japanese manufacturer admits the early days could be uncomfortable.

Formula 1 is heading into one of the most dramatic technical resets in its history. From 2026, power units will feature an almost even split between internal combustion and electric power, placing far greater emphasis on energy deployment and management.

For all five manufacturers — Audi, Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull-Ford and Honda — it’s a step into largely uncharted territory.

Speaking at the unveiling of Honda’s 2026 power unit in Tokyo, Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe

struck a cautious tone.

Aston Martin Aramco F1®Teamとニューパートナーシップ始動発表会を開催

本日初公開した新たなパワーユニット(PU)「RA626H」は、極限の世界での戦いに向けて「電動化時代でも、世界最強のPUをつくりたい」という想いを原動力にHRCが開発しました。… pic.twitter.com/cHeQDvSGOU

— Honda 本田技研工業 (@HondaJP) January 20, 2026

“Of course, if we are going to compete, we are committed to winning,” he said. “However, the 2026 regulations are technically extremely challenging, and perhaps we will struggle.”

That honesty reflects the mood inside Honda. With no meaningful on-track testing completed, the true competitive picture remains unknown.

Add to that paddock whispers suggesting Mercedes — and possibly Red Bull-Ford — may have found an early edge in how the new internal combustion rules are interpreted, and Honda is keen to keep expectations realistic.

The Aston Martin side of the partnership also comes with question marks. Despite heavy investment from Lawrence Stroll, the team has never sustained a genuine title challenge since its early Jordan Grand Prix days.

Still, there are reasons for optimism. The 2026 car will be the first to fully benefit from Aston Martin’s revamped Silverstone campus, with Adrian Newey’s influence expected to quietly shape the project.

Honda’s return itself has been anything but straightforward. After announcing its F1 exit in 2020 and formally stepping away at the end of 2021, the company continued supplying engines to Red Bull through the current rules cycle.

Behind the scenes, though, plans were already in motion for a full comeback — this time with Aston Martin.

The message from Honda is clear: the ambition hasn’t changed, but patience will be essential.