Honda announced it will be the supplier of hybrid powertrains for the single-seaters of the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team from the 2026 season, coinciding with the forthcoming change in regulations.
The new regulations that will take effect in 2026 will bring three times more electrical power compared to the current hybrid setup, taking the output ratio between the e-motor and the combustion engine to a balanced 50/50 (from the current 20/80). Furthermore, the single-seaters will use 100% sustainable fuel, in a quest for the F1 championship to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
Honda, which is also aiming toward carbon neutrality, saw this as an opportunity and challenge, re-entering F1 as a power unit supplier following its recent exit in 2021. The automaker suggests that the R&D work on the new hybrid unit which will be undertaken by Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), will have “profound significance” in terms of developing future technologies set to be used in “mass production electric vehicles, such as an electric flagship sports model”.
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Honda has close ties with Red Bull Racing after helping it win the Drivers’ F1 title in 2021 as a powertrain supplier, the Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles in 2022 as a technical partner, and leading the 2023 standings so far. However, earlier this year Red Bull signed a deal with Ford for the development of new hybrid powertrains for 2026, leaving Honda out of the equation. On the other hand, Aston Martin performs significantly better this year and shows great potential for the future, which could be among the reasons that Honda chose it as a future partner.
Honda CEO, Toshihiro Mibe, said that Honda and the Aston Martin F1 Team “share the same sincere attitude and determination to win, so starting with the 2026 season, we will work together and strive for the Championship title as Aston Martin Aramco Honda”.
