P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Honda hold ’emergency’ talks over Aston Martin F1 crisis
During an ’emergency’ press briefing, Honda Racing president Koji Watanabe disclosed ongoing talks with F1 team Aston Martin following a troubled start to their power unit partnership, set for the 2026 season.
Aston Martin joined forces with Honda in a bid to challenge the top four teams in Formula 1 under new regulations, but faced setbacks during pre-season testing in Barcelona and Bahrain, revealing reliability and power issues that hindered their performance.
Aston Martin encountered breakdowns, low lap counts, and lackluster speed, with driver Lance Stroll noting a significant gap to frontrunners. Despite iconic designer Adrian Newey’s involvement and Honda’s championship-winning pedigree, challenges persist.
Watanabe acknowledged the difficult pre-season tests, emphasizing the need for closer collaboration to rectify issues and pushing the teams to work tirelessly towards improvement.
The power unit landscape for the 2026 season features unique scenarios, with Aston Martin and Audi on one end, utilizing Honda and their in-house engines respectively, while teams like Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes each manage distinct power unit strategies.
