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Honda hold ‘emergency’ talks with Aston Martin as 2026 F1 project hits early crisis
Honda have moved swiftly to calm growing concerns over their new Formula 1 partnership with Aston Martin after a troubled start to preparations for the 2026 season.
Speaking during what was described as an “emergency” press conference with Japanese media, Koji Watanabe admitted that pre-season testing had exposed serious weaknesses in Honda’s new power unit package. The Japanese manufacturer is set to become Aston Martin’s exclusive engine supplier under Formula 1’s sweeping 2026 regulation changes, but early signs suggest the project is facing significant hurdles.
Aston Martin’s winter programme in Barcelona and Bahrain was plagued by reliability failures and limited running. Across the nine days of official testing in January and February, the Silverstone-based outfit completed the fewest laps of any of the 11 teams on the grid. Breakdowns interrupted multiple sessions, while power-related issues prevented consistent long runs.
Even when the car did manage to stay on track, performance was underwhelming. Driver Lance Stroll conceded that the team appeared to be as much as four seconds off the pace of the leading outfits a stark deficit heading into a new regulatory era that was meant to offer ambitious projects like Aston Martin a reset opportunity.
The struggles have raised eyebrows given the pedigree behind the programme. The 2026 Aston Martin challenger has been designed under the guidance of legendary aerodynamicist Adrian Newey, whose arrival was viewed as a statement of intent. Meanwhile, Honda enter the partnership off the back of championship-winning campaigns with Red Bull Racing, having powered the Milton Keynes squad to both drivers’ and constructors’ glory in recent seasons.
Yet Watanabe did not shy away from the scale of the task ahead.
“To be frank, the pre-season tests were extremely tough for us,” he said. “We were unable to perform to the full extent we had hoped, and a number of issues became apparent.
“This test was a very important process in that it allowed us to visualise the issues. Our engineers and mechanics are now working more closely than ever before with the team on site, working day and night to make improvements.
“We are in open discussions with Aston Martin and are working more together than ever to find solutions to overcome this challenge. The obstacles we face are certainly high, but we will not give up.”
One of the key structural challenges facing Honda is the lack of a second customer team. Aston Martin will be the sole user of Honda power in 2026, limiting the amount of comparative data available for development. Former Aston Martin strategy engineer Bernie Collins recently suggested that this could hamper progress, particularly in the early stages of a new rules cycle when mileage and cross-team feedback are crucial.
A similar situation applies to Audi F1 Team, who will enter the championship as a full works power unit manufacturer without customer squads. However, early indications suggest Audi’s reliability programme has been more stable than Aston Martin’s, increasing pressure on Honda to respond quickly.
Elsewhere on the 2026 grid, the competitive landscape is rapidly evolving. Red Bull Racing are transitioning to their own in-house power units in collaboration with Ford Motor Company, supplying both their main team and sister outfit Racing Bulls. Ferrari will continue as a manufacturer, powering their works entry alongside Haas and Cadillac. Mercedes, meanwhile, remain the most widely used supplier, with McLaren, Williams, Alpine and their own works team all set to run Mercedes engines.
For Aston Martin, the stakes could hardly be higher. Owner Lawrence Stroll has invested heavily in new facilities, cutting-edge infrastructure and elite technical personnel to transform the team into a championship contender. The 2026 reset was viewed internally as the moment to close the gap to the sport’s traditional powerhouses.
Instead, early warning signs have triggered urgent talks at the highest level. While Honda’s past success proves they are capable of delivering a title-winning package, Formula 1’s new hybrid regulations featuring increased electrical deployment and sustainable fuels represent a complex technical challenge.
The coming months will be critical. Intensive dyno work, correlation analysis and further track validation must convert winter lessons into tangible progress. With rivals already showing stronger early reliability, Aston Martin and Honda cannot afford a prolonged learning curve.
For now, Watanabe’s message is clear: the situation is serious, but the fight is far from over.
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