20 April 2023 , 08:54
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Aston Martin looks to be Honda's main target for the 2026 season as its Formula 1 partnership with Red Bull comes to an end.
The Japanese manufacturer has registered as an engine constructor for 2026, despite the company's initial plan to walk away from F1. It resurrected its partnership with Red Bull, but that will officially cease at the end of the 2025 season.
Honda supplied engines to the Milton Keynes-based team for several years but declared it would be leaving, prompting Red Bull to create its own powertrains division. F1's increased focus on sustainability – and Red Bull's recent success – led to a U-turn on that decision.
However, as Red Bull has now committed to the Ford Motor Company as its powertrains partner from 2026, Honda must looks elsewhere. According to Autosport, Aston Martin is a potential new partner for Honda with most other teams already committed to other engine suppliers.
With six power unit builders and just 10 teams, it is difficult for Honda to find a buyer. Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault, Audi and now Red Bull themselves are all supplying their own 'factory teams', also providing plenty of choice for customers.
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Aston Martin currently runs with Mercedes power units and, despite currently ahead of the Silver Arrows in the standings, it believes it is only a matter of time before it surges back past the Silverstone-based team.
Honda could look to strike a deal with Aston Martin, which currently runs with Mercedes power units (Hasan Bratic/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)Inheriting parts from others can sometimes put a team on the back foot as they must adapt the car to the engine, whilst a works team has the advantage of being able to design the car with an engine in mind.
Aston Martin also uses Mercedes gearboxes and almost the entire rear of the car, making breaking away from Mercedes an expensive prospect. Owner Lawrence Stroll has a clear ambition for significant investment in the team, which he feels will benefit from having a stable exclusive engine deal if partnered with Honda.
Other teams which could also partner with Honda are McLaren and Williams, which have both been considering their options in recent months. But both teams are, as it stands, expected to stay loyal to Mercedes.