Aston Martin and Honda met in person at the track in Barcelona for the first time: Could this be the start of a stronger partnership?
Aston Martin continues to struggle in Formula 1 even as the European season gets underway: Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll both faced difficulties in both Monaco and Spain. The Spaniard’s first top-10 finish in the Principality is, at best, cold comfort.
After all, on both the Monte Carlo street circuit and in Barcelona, the two Aston Martin drivers finished last in qualifying, trailing the competition by a wide margin: The fastest Aston Martin in Q1 in Barcelona was a full second slower than the slowest Cadillac.
This prompted Alonso to state during the subsequent media session that the British team currently has not only the weakest power unit but also the weakest chassis on the grid. Both drivers are pinning their hopes on the update package expected before the Belgian Grand Prix.
However, the biggest problems continue to be with the power unit and the transmission. “The start of the 2026 season has been very challenging for us. Our current position is not what we’re aiming for,” says Koji Watanabe, President of Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), in a special video message.
Honda looks back on the 2015 Formula 1 season
“But in difficult times, we rely on the fighting spirit that is part of Honda’s and HRC’s DNA. We also had a tough start in 2015, but we grew stronger by never giving up.” Watanabe is referring to Honda’s first year in the hybrid era, which turned out to be a painful chapter at McLaren.
However, the partnership with the Woking-based team was never destined to succeed. Starting in 2018, Honda switched to Red Bull, initially collaborating with the sister team Toro Rosso, and then with the main team a year later. This resulted in several world championship titles with Max Verstappen starting in 2021.
Now Honda is hoping for a similar turnaround, with the key difference being that this time, a change of partner is not the goal. Instead, the manufacturer is committed to ensuring the long-term success of its ambitious project with Aston Martin. “Our relationship with Aston Martin is growing stronger every day,” Watanabe emphasizes.
First on-site meeting as an important milestone?
According to the HRC president, another step was taken in Barcelona. The Japanese executive was there in person to discuss current issues and speak with team members on Thursday. “At the recent Spanish Grand Prix, we had a team meeting that provided us with a great opportunity to communicate openly and strengthen our trust.”
“I also really enjoyed speaking directly with many team members,” confirms Watanabe. As Motorsport.com has learned, this meeting took place in the team’s hospitality area and was informal in nature.
It was the first “team meeting” to take place at the track this year. Aston Martin and Honda plan to hold similar gatherings more frequently as the season progresses, primarily to bring everyone involved closer together and to encourage direct communication with staff on site.
But the list of issues remains long. Aston Martin ambassador Pedro de la Rosa already admitted in Monaco that there is no light at the end of the tunnel for the time being, even though the severe vibrations that had occurred at the season opener have since been resolved.
Aston Martin Still Faces Major Challenges
Honda has therefore been able to focus more on drivability in the meantime, an issue that had also caused problems for Alonso and Stroll in recent months. Although progress has been made in this area, the Sakura-based manufacturer still lacks a considerable amount of raw power, particularly from the internal combustion engine.
Thanks to ADUO (How the “catch-up system” works), there is a chance to make up some of the ground, even though Watanabe acknowledges that this will be a long-term battle. In addition, the transmission—particularly the feel when downshifting—continues to be a cause for concern, and according to Alonso, the chassis needs drastic improvements.
It’s clear: the challenges remain multifaceted. “But we will never give up, no matter what happens,” Watanabe assures us. “We understand that the results so far have been frustrating, and we share that feeling. However, we are convinced that our hard work will pay off, and we will continue to move forward.”
