Honda's current approach to its Formula 1® involvement with Aston Martin represents a significant shift from its previous partnership with Red Bull. Unlike before, Honda has embraced a philosophy of rotating staff between its road car projects and Formula 1®, resulting in a largely new and initially less experienced team managing its power unit programme.
This change only became fully apparent to Aston Martin towards the end of 2025, despite the partnership starting in 2023. The rotation system means that personnel frequently move between different areas of Honda’s business, which has led to a steep learning curve during the early part of the 2026 season. The challenges faced during winter testing and the first races of the year highlighted the impact of this approach on development and performance.
To address these hurdles, Honda Racing Corporation rehired experienced engineers who had been part of the Red Bull era, aiming to quickly bolster expertise within the Formula 1® power unit team. Alongside this, Honda has been testing a notable upgrade to its power unit, including trials at the Zandvoort circuit and a filming day in Hungary. These efforts are intended to enhance competitiveness and close the gap to leading manufacturers.
Shintaro Orihara, Honda’s trackside general manager and chief engineer, has provided insights into this evolving strategy. He emphasised that the rotation policy is a deliberate company philosophy, designed to maintain a strong connection between Honda’s road car developments and its Formula 1® programme. While this has introduced initial difficulties, the approach also aims to foster a broader skill set among staff over time.
Aston Martin’s discovery of the changed nature of Honda’s Formula 1® operation in late 2025 was unexpected but has led to a more realistic understanding of the challenges ahead. The early 2026 season has been a period of gaining experience and adapting to the new team dynamics. The power unit upgrade tested recently is a key step in Honda’s plan to improve performance on track.
Honda expects that with continued development and the integration of experienced personnel, it can return to a more competitive position in the power unit field by late 2027 or early 2028. This timeline reflects the complexity of the current project and the time required to build a cohesive and effective team under the rotation system.
This evolution in Honda’s Formula 1® involvement illustrates how manufacturer strategies can differ significantly even within the same sport. The partnership with Aston Martin is still in its early stages, with clear efforts underway to overcome initial challenges and progress steadily. The insights from Honda’s leadership underline a cautious but confident outlook on future improvements in power unit performance and team capability.