Honda's Watanabe Pledges Long-Term Commitment to Aston Martin Amid 2026 Struggles

Honda Stands Firm as Aston Martin Partnership Hits Its Lowest Point

Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe has delivered an unequivocal statement of intent ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring, insisting the Japanese manufacturer will not walk away from its works deal with Aston Martin no matter how difficult the 2026 season becomes. The remarks, made in an exclusive interview with Formula1.com, come at the lowest moment of a partnership that has struggled since the opening round of the season.^[1]

Aston Martin sit 10th in the constructors' championship after seven rounds, having accumulated just a single point courtesy of Fernando Alonso in Monaco.^[3] The Honda power unit has suffered persistent reliability and performance deficits, and the FIA's new Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) system was adjusted to give manufacturers a greater chance of improving their internal combustion engine for those with a deficit of more than 10% to the best unit in the field.^[5]

Watanabe told Formula1.com that Honda's commitment to the sport is unchanged: "There is no change in our evaluation or our commitment to HRC or motorsport activities at this stage. Taking the challenge of Formula 1 remains part of Honda's DNA." He added that "the project must be evaluated over the mid-to-long term period, not this year."^[1]

The HRC president pointed to the complexity of the new environment as a significant factor. New regulations, a new partnership, new fuel supplier Aramco, and new lubricant partner Valvoline have all had to be integrated simultaneously.^[5] Honda's own delayed rebuild after it originally stepped back from full F1 operations at the end of 2021 has also compounded the problem; the late restart of development and the need to rebuild internal capabilities were identified by Watanabe as key contributors to the slow start.^[4]

A power unit upgrade targeting the internal combustion engine is planned for the summer, though Watanabe was clear that it "will not dramatically change the situation overnight," with a long-term perspective guiding the approach.^[4] Aston Martin is simultaneously preparing a major aerodynamic package, a decision led by design chief Adrian Newey, who has held back from incremental race-by-race updates in favour of a larger intervention.^[4]

A joint "team gathering" held at the Madrid Grand Prix gave both sides a formal opportunity to align. Watanabe described it as a chance to "communicate openly and strengthen our trust," and confirmed that similar meetings are planned more regularly for the remainder of the season.^[2]

Watanabe also told Formula1.com that Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll remains a committed partner. Regular communication between the two men continues, with both sharing dissatisfaction at current results but discussing recovery across the power unit, chassis and team operation.^[1]

:::analysis Honda's rhetoric draws a deliberate parallel with its 2015 return alongside McLaren, a partnership that also began with deep unreliability before the manufacturer eventually partnered with Red Bull and achieved multiple championships. Watanabe's public framing of the ADUO system as an opportunity rather than an embarrassment is a notable piece of stakeholder management. The key question entering the summer break is whether the planned power unit and chassis upgrades, arriving concurrently, can shift the car from the back of the grid into midfield contention. If they cannot, Watanabe's language of patience will face much greater scrutiny when 2027 contract discussions intensify. :::

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