Honda chief responds to Newey's 'inexperience' claim, cites Aston Martin's role in AMR26 issues

Honda Racing Corporation President Koji Watanabe has clarified that Adrian Newey "misunderstood" comments about a lack of F1 experience within the Japanese engine supplier. Watanabe explained Honda's policy of rotating engineers and asserted the company now has a "sufficient organization and talent." He also indicated that Aston Martin's chassis design shares blame for the extreme vibrations plaguing their 2026 car, the AMR26, highlighting the challenges of their late-starting partnership.

Why it matters:

The public exchange between a legendary designer and a key engine manufacturer underscores the early growing pains in a critical new works partnership. With the 2026 regulatory overhaul approaching, seamless collaboration between Aston Martin and Honda is essential. Any friction or misalignment in development philosophy could compromise their ability to challenge the established frontrunners from the start of the new era.

The details:

• Adrian Newey had expressed surprise after a November visit to Tokyo, stating he hadn't realized "many of the original workforce had not returned" when Honda restarted its F1 program.
• President Koji Watanabe responded, calling it a "misunderstanding." He explained Honda's long-standing policy is to regularly rotate motorsport engineers to other advanced technology divisions, such as automotive mass production or aviation.
• Watanabe acknowledged that rebuilding the F1 organization "took time" following Honda's brief exit after 2021, which may have been the source of Newey's concern.
• On the performance issues with the 2026 car, Watanabe highlighted Honda's late start compared to rivals but did not shoulder all the blame for the AMR26's severe vibrations.
  • He pointedly noted the Silverstone-based team's role in the car's troubled start, suggesting the chassis and power unit integration is a shared challenge.

What's next:

The focus for both parties is now squarely on resolving the AMR26's fundamental issues ahead of its track debut. This public clarification aims to reset the narrative around Honda's capabilities and reinforce a unified front. The success of this partnership hinges on translating this behind-the-scenes dialogue into effective technical solutions before the 2026 pre-season tests begin.