McLaren and Honda to be partnered again in 2026?
While Red Bull is set to develop its engine department with its new partner Ford, "exploratory discussions" are said to be taking place between McLaren and Honda to consider a new alliance in 2026.
The officialization of Red Bull’s partnership with Ford, without Cosworth, for the future engine regulations in 2026, means that the agreement between Red Bull Racing, AlphaTauri, and Honda will not be renewed until 2025. Without a team to supply engines to the following year, the Japanese brand would therefore be forced to leave Formula 1.
Yes, but here’s the thing, six engine manufacturers were confirmed by the FIA for 2026, and Honda is a part of it, indicating that the Japanese brand wants to continue in F1 with another team after the end of its partnership with Red Bull. On paper, Aston Martin, Williams, and McLaren are the three possible teams for a collaboration, and according to the newspaper “The Race,” contacts have taken place between Honda and the Woking team, which is currently associated with Mercedes, regarding a potential alliance starting from 2026.
While CEO Zack Brown stated last November:
« We have a long-term contract with Mercedes, we are very satisfied with the collaboration, and we don’t spend too much time yet thinking about 2026 and beyond. »
Two contrasting chapters
Honda has a great track record in F1, particularly with McLaren. The team used engines manufactured by the Japanese company in the late 80s and early 90s, during the rivalry between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost.
In total, over this period, six titles for the constructors and five for the drivers were won.
A romance that couldn’t be found again in the second chapter between 2015 and 2017, due to an unreliable and underperforming engine. The famous “GP2 engine” (former name for F2) abandoned by a disillusioned Fernando Alonso during the home Grand Prix of the Japanese brand, bears witness to the frustration, but also to the tensions within the team from the first year of collaboration.
A second marriage anything but happy that ended prematurely, McLaren partnering with Renault and Honda with Red Bull through its sister team AlphaTauri, formerly known as Toro Rosso.
While McLaren is about to unveil its car in a few days, Honda managed to win two driver titles and one constructor title with Red Bull in 2021 and 2022.
