On Wednesday, Aston Martin is expected to unveil Honda as their new engine supplier, effective with the 2026 season.
The Silverstone-based team, which is apparently planning to make a statement at this week’s Monaco Grand Prix, will reportedly sever ties with Mercedes for the new power unit regulations in 2026.
Honda has stated that they intend to stay involved in the sport once their deal with Red Bull ends, according to Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport, which claims that Aston Martin will start receiving power units from Honda in 2026.
By the end of 2025, Honda’s contract with Red Bull will have expired, and the manufacturer will then start supplying engines to Aston Martin.
After 17 years, the Silverstone-based team’s partnership with Mercedes will come to an end. Mercedes began supplying Aston Martin with engines in 2009, when they were still known as Force India.
The Silver Arrows currently supplies the Aston Martin team with engines, suspension, and gearboxes; it remains unknown how much money Honda will give the german manufacturer.
According to Gazzetta, it will result in Aston Martin becoming a Honda works team for the new power unit regulations. The announcement is expected on Wednesday.
According to sources close to HRC, PlanetF1.com reports that Honda’s agreement with Aston Martin will last from 2026 to the conclusion of the 2030 season, after which it may be further extended through negotiations.
Switching to Honda could be viewed as a risk given how effectively Aston Martin has started the 2023 season, with the team having won four podiums in its first five races.
The Japanese manufacturer is obviously highly involved in Red Bull’s current power unit, which is by far the most dominant on the grid even though it does not bear the Honda brand.
However, there is no assurance that Honda will still have the most powerful powerunit when the new rules take effect, therefore Aston Martin taking a chance by forgoing Mercedes’ security.
Due to the anticipated relationship with Honda and Fernando Alonso’s prior comparison of the Japanese manufacturer’s engine to a GP2 car, the driver lineup for Aston Martin from 2026 onward may also experience a significant change.
The double world champion eventually quit the sport for two seasons after their partnership at McLaren didn’t end well back when the team was under Honda.
By 2026, Alonso would be 45 years old, and it’s possible that he would have given up racing by then. If not, the Spaniard might be required to join another squad if he will still be racing.
