Honda set up base in UK to prepare for Aston Martin collaboration
After years of success as Red Bull Racing's engine supplier, Honda will supply engines for Aston Martin from 2026. Ahead of this partnership, the carmaker has announced that it will have a facility in the UK.
The Japanese carmaker has been supplying the engines for Red Bull Racing's team for quite some time. The deal was due to end at the end of 2021, but it was still extended until the end of 2025. From then on, Red Bull will design their own engine from Red Bull Powertrains in partnership with Ford.
Honda moves to the UK
From 2026, Honda will supply the engines for Aston Martin's team. Currently, that team is still running an engine from Mercedes. Lawrence Stroll's team has big ambitions to become the fastest, and their upcoming engine supplier seems to share those ambitions.
In the run-up to their partnership with Aston Martin, Honda will have a base in the UK. Currently, all engines are still made in Japan, but that is about to change with the first factory in Europe. To bring about this location, Honda Racing Corporation has set up a new subsidiary, Honda Racing Corporation UK Ltd.
In a statement, Honda reported the following: "This new company has been founded to primarily perform post-race maintenance and preparation tasks on the Honda built F1 power units (PUs), whilst also operating as a logistics operation for the European region. The establishment of HRC UK will further enhance the effectiveness of Honda’s PU operations, in support of the partnership with Aston Martin Aramco Formula One® Team. In May 2023, Honda and Aston Martin F1 jointly announced they will enter into works partnership so that Honda will supply its F1 PUs compliant with the new F1 regulations which will take effect in the 2026 season. Following the establishment of the new company in the UK, HRC will start the recruitment of engineers, technicians and staff members for the new company from Spring 2024."
Makes perfectly sense. AM has pulled the right card. In future it isn't anymore MB who will dictate the package, but themselves. This is a non neglecting advantage compared to the current PU's they get. Condition being that Honda will get everything right for 2026.
Honda works team, AM is going to be a contender in 2026. They have a good aero package and the Honda PU, which is performing so well at Red Bull. This is why Max could be considering AM as a possible move for 2026, along with the blank cheque the Saudis ?? would give him for the move.
There's no certainty that Aston will be a contender in 2026. I'm not so sure about them having a good aero package aswell, being 4th-5th quickest atm. And I'm 100% sure Verstappen doesn't even think about Aston Martin, as long as he is in dominating RedBull. Verstappen first needs to see signs, that someone will overtake Redbull, to start think about team changes. Currently there is not any signs like that. Only one who can challenge RedBull in future, is Ferrari, with their extra millions and good facilities. Rest have no signs to do that, at least at the moment.
Well, Honda already to AM. Next target, Newey? Then maybe Max? If that happens then you can say that AM pulled 1 of the best Kansas Shuffles ever. All eyes on Merc and boom AM gets the prize. But that's just me talking a lot of bs actually.
@Cain, isn't that true for all of the teams, there's no certainty with any of them nailing those engine regulations. Aero package will get you so far but he PUs will be the determining factor. All I am saying is that Honda is currently dominating with their PU, wouldn't it be more likely, not 100%, but more likely that they would have slight advantage on the rest. With the money ? thats another conversation, some rumors are talking about a billion dollar contract on the table for Max to move to AM... Its all talk and rumours, the current status quo applies until its not.
@vegan last year am went backwards for a coupel races with there aero .yes honda is a good pu .with how they work with red bull .but if you rember when meclaran had honda the mclaran team did not work in harmony with honda .and if stroll sr keeps interviring it may not work out
@Mavric, thats a good point. The question is do you think Honda will build a better pu than RedBull Powertrains?
@vegan its hard to say till we see the pu in action on track then we can say yes or no .but rb got lot of staff that use to work on merc pu
@Mavric, 2026 will be intresting, don't forget Audi is gonna be manufacturing an engine as well.
@vegan its a good point honda is good at the moment with rb .it be intresting to see .yes maybe rb may have some teething problams at first but know can tell and are am going be abel to make good car in 2026
@Mavric, that's a good point and remeber that Honda's engine is dominating right now .
@Vegan Warrior +194327-03-2024 11:51 You're a bit to early, the *current* Honda engine that is rebadged to Red Bull performs indeed very well, but in 26'' we have new engine rules. So if they are competitive from the start we don't known but may i remind you that current succes had a period of faillure(with Mclaren) prior, so it's not an given that Honda or any PU manufacurer for that matter has the golden eggs.
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