Honda continues to be ambitious for F1 2026 return, bids to win championship with Aston Martin

In less than two years Japanese car manufacturer company Honda will make a return to Formula 1 grid. Honda will make a comeback as a power unit supplier for Aston Martin. This will be Honda’s comeback to F1 after five years as they departed in 2021 after Max Verstappen won the drivers championship.

Red Bull has been sticking with Honda's power unit until now, but they've recently teamed up with Ford for the 2026 season, coinciding with the introduction of new technical regulations. Honda's return to Formula 1 found a home at Aston Martin, backed by Lawrence Stroll's leadership. The team has been investing in its F1 endeavours, including the inauguration of a new factory just last year.

Meanwhile, Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe said that Honda will make a strong comeback possibly with a win in the 2026 season. He said, "To become world champion from 2026 onwards. We know that it will be very difficult and it is not so easy, but we need some good targets to put in our best effort together with Aston Martin.”

“It is not so easy”, says Honda prez Koji Watanabe

Further speaking about their intentions to win the championship Honda president Watanabe revealed that it is not an easy target. "So, that's why together with Stroll and Toshihiro Mibe [Honda CEO and president], we set the target to just aim for the world championship in that year. In reality, it is not so easy”, he said.

“Probably we're missing something [right now], but we have to tell each other what is missing,” he further said. From an Aston Martin point of view what is missing on the Honda side and also what is missing on the Aston Martin side? That is an honest conversation to become a top-class team together."

Aston Martin's plans for 2026 are coming together as Fernando Alonso decides to stick with the team for another two seasons. At 42 years old, Alonso is still considered one of the best drivers on the grid. He'll be working again with Honda, despite facing challenges with them during his time at McLaren from 2015 to 2017.