Honda blames 'new everything' and delayed start for dramatic fall after Red Bull split

Honda has fallen from powering Max Verstappen's championship dynasty at Red Bull to producing what is widely regarded as the weakest and least reliable engine on the Formula 1 grid. Honda Racing Corporation President Koji Watanabe has shed light on the compounding challenges behind the Japanese manufacturer's dramatic decline since joining forces with Aston Martin.

Why it matters:

The drop-off is staggering for a manufacturer that defined the peak of the turbo-hybrid era with Red Bull. After helping Verstappen secure four consecutive titles, Honda was expected to give Aston Martin the boost needed to challenge at the front. Instead, Lawrence Stroll's ambitious project is hamstrung by a power unit well off the pace, intensifying scrutiny on Honda's ability to recover its winning form.

The details:

• Watanabe explained to F1 that the current program is "fundamentally different" from the Red Bull collaboration, stressing that "everything is new" for the Japanese outfit.
• The list of changes includes complex 2026 regulations, an entirely new partnership with Aston Martin, Aramco fuel, and Valvoline lubricants.
• Honda fully withdrew from the sport at the end of 2021 and spent 18 months deciding whether to return for the new ruleset, which delayed the start of the current power unit's development.
• "The recovery from the delay caused by our previous withdrawal has taken time," Watanabe said, noting that rebuilding capabilities, capacities, and bringing back essential talent has been a major hurdle.

What's next:

There is no quick fix for Honda's predicament. While the manufacturer is pouring resources into closing the performance gap, the combination of a late start and wholesale changes to its operating environment means Aston Martin is unlikely to see a dramatic turnaround overnight. The coming months will test whether Honda can accelerate its rebuild and justify the faith Stroll has placed in the partnership.