Honda and Newey in 'Intense' Collaboration for Aston Martin's 2026 Push

Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe has revealed the "intense" and frequent nature of his conversations with Adrian Newey as the legendary designer and the Japanese manufacturer reunite at Aston Martin. After a championship-winning partnership at Red Bull, the duo are now working closely to integrate Honda's 2026 power unit with Newey's chassis, with every discussion laser-focused on the ultimate goal of winning.

Why it matters:

The reunion of Adrian Newey, arguably F1's greatest designer, with Honda, the power unit behind Red Bull's recent dominance, represents a monumental shift in the grid's competitive landscape. Aston Martin, with its significant investment and resources, is positioning itself as a legitimate title contender for the 2026 regulations. This powerful combination of technical expertise could be the catalyst needed to dethrone the current top teams and forge a new era of competition.

The details:

• Reunion and Respect: Watanabe described their first meeting after Newey's arrival as lighthearted, saying, "it was very much a case of, 'Well, here we are again!'" He emphasized the "huge respect" for Newey's capabilities.
• Constant Communication: The HRC president noted he is in "frequent" contact with Newey, often engaging in what he called a "quite intense exchange of opinions, suggestions, and feedback."
• A Singular Focus: Despite the intensity, Watanabe stressed that every conversation is "always with the focus on winning." The long-term goal of victory governs all their technical discussions.
• Holistic Approach: Their talks are not limited to engineering. They cover a wide range of topics, including detailed component design, competitor analysis, personnel management, and even how to strategically use the cost cap to their advantage.

What's next:

The 2026 season marks the start of a new era of F1 regulations, providing the perfect backdrop for this ambitious partnership to make its mark. The true test will be translating the high-level strategy and intense collaboration into a car that is fast, reliable, and capable of challenging for the championship from the outset. All eyes will be on Aston Martin's development progress over the coming year as they aim to build on the formidable foundation laid by the Newey-Honda alliance.