Ralf Schumacher claims Aston Martin allies harbour grudge towards Fernando Alonso

Ralf Schumacher, speaking to Formel.de, pointed to something Alonso said during the 2015 Japanese Grand Prix. Back then, the Spaniard was driving for McLaren.

Alonso famously dubbed his Honda engine a ‘GP2 engine’ over team radio due to its poor performance, which made him vulnerable on the straights.

The two sides will be working together again in 2026, with Honda supplying power units to Aston Martin under the new F1 regulations. Schumacher thinks this could create issues for Alonso, given how well Honda’s engineers remember past grievances.

“I had the opportunity to work with two Japanese manufacturers, and I learned one thing: they have a very strong memory,” Schumacher said.

“I don’t think that the way things were back then when McLaren and Fernando Alonso, in particular, were still in their heyday when he wasn’t exactly known as the team player with the gentle character that he now portrays or that he obviously is now.

“Honda took note of that, and there are some prejudices in the room. I’m pretty sure of that. Maybe that can be worked out over time, but I know how Japanese people are and how they tick, I don’t think there’s a lot of love there at the moment.”

Honda’s success with Red Bull came after a rocky start at McLaren

After Honda’s difficult spell with McLaren in the mid-2010s, the company went on to form a highly successful partnership with Red Bull. This move helped Red Bull overcome their issues with Renault power units and put them back in contention at the front of the grid.

Even after Honda officially pulled out of Formula 1 in 2021, Red Bull continued to use their engines. This led to the formation of Red Bull Powertrains, which has managed the team’s engine supply through the end of 2025 using Honda-built units.

For the first time, Red Bull will develop their own power units next season, partnering with Ford under new engine regulations. Ford’s commitment to their F1 entry with Red Bull remains, even after Christian Horner’s departure as team principal in early March.

Still, there are concerns about how competitive these new engines will be. Ted Kravitz has even suggested that Red Bull could face similar struggles to Cadillac when they join the grid next season.