Honda showcased the all-new RA626H powertrain in Tokyo today, which will power the Aston Martin F1 car for the 2026 season. This formally launches the partnership between the Japanese engine supplier and the British racing outfit, while also marking Honda’s full-time return to the Formula 1 championship – as an engine supplier – as the sport enters a brand-new era of technical regulations.
- Aston Martin is now a works F1 team with Honda as engine supplier
- New powertrain uses greater electrical assistance than before, and sustainable fuel
- New Honda Racing (HRC)-spec roads cars also announced
Honda x Aston Martin Aramco Formula One details
Developed by Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), the global racing arm of Honda, the new RA626H powertrain ushers in an era of all-new engine regulations where the complex MGU-H system has been completely done away with. Instead, the MGU-K is now more powerful, and can generate three times more electrical power, making for a near 50/50 power split between the ICE and electric components. The other big change is that the combustion engine will now run on sustainable fuels.
It is exactly this focus on sustainability that persuaded Honda back into the top tier of motorsports after formally exiting at the end of the 2021 season when it was a PU supplier for Red Bull. “Formula 1 is evolving into a next-generation motorsport that takes on the challenges of both electrification and de-carbonisation, and at Honda, we position our Formula 1 activities as a symbol of challenge and innovation,” said Toshihiro Mibe, Global CEO of Honda.
The new Honda ‘H’ logo, recently adopted by the brand for its automotive business, will also be seen on the new Aston Martin F1 cars, as well as in other motorsports categories such as IndyCar, Super GT and Super Formula Championship.
Lawrence Stroll, executive chairman of Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team, said, “Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team is entering into a true works partnership with Honda, meaning the chassis and PU are designed as one integrated package – a move that is crucial to the aspiration to win championships. The team is also proud to have Aramco providing sustainable fuels and Valvoline with lubricants for the first time.”
2026 will also be the first full year with Adrian Newey as the new team principal and technical director for the Aston Martin F1 team, with Andy Cowell serving as the chief strategy officer. Aston Martin will reveal its new livery in full on February 9.
Apart from Red Bull (and sister team Torro Rosso/AlphaTauri), Honda has previously also powered McLaren and Williams F1 cars. Meanwhile, Aston Martin cars were so far powered by Mercedes PUs.
New HRC-spec road cars announced
Formula 1 has always been a platform for groundbreaking innovations in the automotive field, and to further that cause, Honda has announced a new range of HRC-spec production cars. These road cars will be worked on by Honda’s F1 engineers and can be expected with improved driving dynamics and performance. The first of these were previewed by a new Civic Type R HRC Concept.
Honda not only hopes to transfer its learnings from the new F1 PU to its next-gen hybrid and electric road cars but also in the aviation field, such as in aviation fuel and aircraft engines.
Unnatee Gidithuri
