06 June 2023 , 06:00
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Toto Wolff moved to allay fears that Aston Martin's future partnership with Honda is a reflection on the Silver Arrows' performance struggles.
Mercedes were the dominant force in Formula 1 not so long ago, but times have changed. Red Bull are running the show these days with the last two cars created by Wolff's Brackley-based team unable to compete with the machines designed not so far away in Milton Keynes.
Currently, Mercedes supply power units and other parts to Aston Martin as well as McLaren and Williams. But the former will be ending that relationship with the conclusion of the 2025 season having struck a deal with Honda.
The Japanese automotive giant has been looking around for a new partner, as their Red Bull affiliation will also be ending before the 2026 season. The team has built its own Powertrains division and has joined forced with the Ford Motor Company ahead of the new era of F1 engines.
It will be the first time Red Bull has been a 'works' team and that is something Aston Martin is aspiring towards. According to Wolff, the ambitions of the Silverstone-based team are not a reflection on Mercedes' own performance struggles.
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"I don't think them switching from a Mercedes client situation to a Honda has anything to do with the power unit," said the Austrian. "I think we are competitive in terms of power unit, but they always wanted to emancipate themselves and become a true works team, and that's what they're doing.
Aston Martin will stop using Mercedes-supplied engines after the 2025 season (Getty Images)"They have their own exclusive power unit supply deal, they have their own fuel supplier, they are building a big factory that's going online in the next few months. Lawrence [Stroll, team owner]'s aim is never small. I think when you want to be competitive and win championships, that is the kind of step that you need to make."
It remains to be seen what Mercedes' other customers decide to do. Williams are yet to make a final decision over their 2026 engine options and the same is true for McLaren.
The latter team in particular has gone to no trouble to hide the fact it is very much considering its options. Chief executive Zak Brown recently paid a visit to Red Bull's factory, sparking assumptions that the defending champions might be considering supplying engines to others rather than just Red Bull Racing and sister team AlphaTauri.