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Honda and its partner Aston Martin have had a horrible start to 2026 – much like Jordan did with Honda in 1998. Gary Anderson explains how that situation was fixed, and the parallels for this year
During my time as the technical director of the Jordan Formula 1 team, I collaborated with Honda. After the 2026 pre-season testing, it became evident that while years had passed, the problems had remained largely unchanged. This situation has led me to empathize with Aston Martin’s current struggles.
In 1998, during my final days with Jordan, a commercial decision was made to switch from a reliable Peugeot engine to a less favorable Honda one. This decision mirrors some of the challenges Aston Martin is facing today, particularly with significant regulation changes.
Although Aston Martin is grappling with various issues, it seems that the root cause lies with the Honda component. Drawing from my experiences in 1998, there are notable similarities that can be observed.
In 1997, our car was competitive, and despite a few missed opportunities, we had a good grasp of what made a successful car within those regulations. However, the transition to 1998 brought about significant changes that impacted our performance.
Reflecting on the past, our F1 simulations in 1998 were rudimentary, relying heavily on Excel spreadsheets. We aimed to enhance our car in key areas compared to the previous year, and while we made progress, some challenges still persisted.
Additionally, building a new partnership with Honda posed challenges, especially in terms of adapting to their unique approach and transitioning to different components. The engine dynamics provided by Honda added another layer of complexity, making it challenging to gauge our performance accurately.
Overall, the struggles faced during the 1998 season teach valuable lessons about collaboration, technological advancements, and the importance of adaptability in the fast-paced world of Formula 1.
