Honda’s American branch to take part in F1 thanks to engine partnership with Aston Martin
Honda will be Aston Martin's engine supplier from the 2026 season. The Japanese engine-maker will bring in its Japanese and American branches to take the collaboration with the greens to the very pinnacle of F1.
Aston Martin has been running with Mercedes power unit since the 2009 season, when the team was called Force India. But in 2026, the greens will abandon the engines of the brand with the star to be powered by Honda.
The Japanese manufacturer wanted to stay in F1, despite the end of its association with Red Bull and AlphaTauri after the year 2025. In addition Aston Martin wanted to collaborate with an exclusive engine manufacturer, which is why the two entities will be associating from the first year of the new engine regulations.
Come Strengthen HRC
The collaboration between Aston Martin and Honda will not only be through the Japanese branch. The American section of HRC will also be present in F1.
« With now three Formula 1 races in the United States, the new HRC US will be involved in the development of Formula 1 power units and race support starting from 2026. The team and I are thrilled and honored to embark on this new racing adventure, says David Salters », president of HRC US.
« Honda’s racing car heritage is exceptional. I’ve just returned from Honda’s annual thank you day at Twin Ring Motegi: MotoGP, Formula 1, Indycar, Motocross, Dakar Endurance, Trial, Touring Cars, Super GT – all represented at the highest level by a paddock full of world champions », continues David Salters.
« Only Honda can do that. We challenge ourselves and entertain our fantastic fans in all elite sports, on two and four wheels. We can be incredibly proud to unite our companies and our wonderful people within a single global racing organization – HRC Honda Racing. Our goal is to strengthen the HRC brand and maintain the success of our racing activities. We believe that the global unification of Honda motorsport into a single racing organization will help achieve this goal. Our racing engineers in the United States and Japan will be stronger together, and I am delighted to welcome our American employees to the HRC team, said Koji Watanabe », president of HRC Japan, in September 2023.
