F1 News
Honda president does not object to Alonso after previous statements
- Cas van de Kleut
Honda will return to Formula 1 in 2026. Namely, they will supply engines to Aston Martin. However, Fernando Alonso has at times spoken negatively about the Japanese engine manufacturer during his time at McLaren. Despite that, Koji Watanabe, the president of Honda Racing Corporation, told me there would be no problems if the Spaniard was still driving then.
Alonso and Honda did not exactly have a good marriage when the 41-year-old driver still drove for McLaren. Statements by the man who now drives for Aston Martin about the "GP2 engine" were often broadcast live on television. In 2017, the two-time world champion even suggested that the only problem the McLaren had was the powertrain.
Honda has no problems with Alonso
You would think that the Spaniard has not made himself very popular with the Japanese engine supplier. Yet Koji Watanabe tells Reuters.com that he has no objection to Alonso driving for the Silverstone-based team: "He's making a great contribution both on and off the track. Obviously I spoke to Fernando a little while ago about the direction we intended to go."
Whether the 41-year-old driver will drive then remains to be seen. The Honda Racing Corporation president hopes Alonso will be around for a few more years: "If he's as fit and as competitive as he is today then it would be fantastic to have him in the car in 2026 as well."