'Confirmation of interesting F1 engine deal imminent'
F1 News
- GPblog.com
Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport is reporting some interesting news. Sources close to Honda Racing have been told that confirmation of a new F1 engine deal is coming very soon. Aston Martin is likely to swap Mercedes engines for Honda's.
'Honda and Aston Martin join hands'
A new engine regulation will come into force in Formula 1 in 2026. Looking ahead to this moment, Honda has made some peculiar choices, ending its partnership with Red Bull Racing, only to somewhat glue it back together after regret.
For 2026, Honda is one of six engine manufacturers signed up, but the manufacturer does not yet have a buyer. With Aston Martin, it now seems to have found not only a customer, but also a partner, Gazzetta reports. According to the newspaper, a press conference will take place on Tuesday and confirmation of the partnership will follow on Wednesday.
Outcome for both parties
For Honda, which was still looking for "a place on the grid", it is a godsend and it could be for Aston Martin too. Aston Martin is currently second in the Constructors' Championship and has ambitions to become Formula 1 champion as soon as possible. With an exclusive engine deal, the team takes another big step forward as it gives Aston Martin much more freedom in building the car and is no longer so dependent on Mercedes.
With two-time F1 champion Fernando Alonso in its ranks, Aston Martin wants to attack Red Bull Racing's supremacy. With an eventual deal between Aston Martin and Honda, Alonso will be reunited with the Japanese marque. That was not a good partnership in the past during the times the Spaniard drove at McLaren. His criticism of Honda from the cockpit was a typical depiction of his time there.