Chip Ganassi Racing driver Marcus Ericsson (8) moves through a corner Friday, May 12, 2023, during qualifying for the GMR Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Luke Johnson/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

Honda set to rejoin Formula One in 2026

By Alyssa Clang | Last updated May 23, 2023 1:38 PM ET

Japanese auto manufacturer Honda, which has a storied history in Formula One, is set to write a new chapter in open-wheel racing.

Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport reported Honda will team with Aston Martin in 2026 to supply the British racing team with a top-class engine.

This move will make Honda the fifth engine supplier on the F1 grid, behind Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault and Red Bull Powertrain.

It's a big swing for Aston Martin, which turned 2022's dismal season around and is second in the F1 Constructor's Championship. The team leverages Mercedes engines in its vehicles and is contracted to do so through 2025. This Honda partnerships signals the end of the Mercedes relationship and the start of a new era for Aston Martin.

Lance and Fernando, a dream partnership at @AstonMartinF1 #AzerbaijanGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/NAkWf7bEcc
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 1, 2023

The 2026 season is set to feature sweeping technical regulation changes for all teams on the F1 grid. Aston Martin's engine swap shows that it thinks Honda is better equipped than Mercedes to handle those changes.

And that's not surprising given Honda's F1 history. While Honda's 2026 deal with Aston Martin brings it back to F1 in solely an engine capacity, Honda enjoyed three separate F1 stints as a full-fledged racing team of its own. The company also provided engines to teams such as McLaren and Red Bull in the past. Red Bull's world-beating engine of 2023 is an evolution of an old Honda design.

The partnership is a statement of intent from Aston Martin and Honda. The future of F1 is coming, and the two companies clearly intend to lead it.

Alyssa Clang

Alyssa is a Boston-born Californian with a passion for global sport. She can yell about misplaced soccer passes in five languages and rattle off the turns of Silverstone in her sleep. You can find her dormant Twitter account at @alyssaclang, but honestly, you’re probably better off finding her here

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