Koji Watanabe says Aston Martin and Honda partnership ‘can’t stay the same’ in 2026 season
· Yahoo Sports
Honda Racing Corporation’s president hasn’t been shy about his disappointment with the way their partnership with Aston Martin has started.
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The early signs haven’t been encouraging, with stability problems plaguing the Honda power unit and leaving Aston Martin at a clear disadvantage.
Team principal Adrian Newey is pushing for a cost cap exception to avoid any penalties linked to the technical fixes that are needed.
The drivers are growing increasingly frustrated, with Fernando Alonso even questioning whether it was realistic to expect a full race distance in China given the current state of things.
Honda, meanwhile, don’t see a resolution coming before the Chinese Grand Prix. That’s only added to their own frustrations about how things are going between them and Aston Martin so far.
Honda’s Koji Watanabe calls for closer ties with Aston Martin
Koji Watanabe, president of Honda Racing Corporation, spoke to Autosport Japan ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix about their ongoing work with Adrian Newey and Aston Martin.
With staffing numbers now where they need to be, Watanabe says the focus has shifted to how Honda and Aston Martin operate together. He was candid about the current state of play, acknowledging it needs to improve.
“I think it is important to further deepen our collaboration with Silverstone. To that end, as the person in charge of management, I will work to strengthen the organisation.”
“We have basically strengthened our headcount sufficiently. Now we need to think about which areas we need to strengthen, what authority we need to have, and how we can work together with Aston Martin…”
“In light of this race, I would like to consult with Takeishi (Ikuo/Managing Director and Head of the Four-Wheel Racing Department at Honda Racing).”
Watanabe also stressed that speeding up development isn’t just about adding more power. He sees a more integrated approach with the car as essential.
“That’s right. It can’t stay the same. We need to speed up (development) more, and that doesn’t just mean increasing the power of the PU.”
Watanabe wants both sides working as one team so that they can push development forward.
Honda targets Suzuka for power unit fix
Watanabe told Autosport Japan that Honda is aiming to have the engine problems sorted out before their home race in Japan, though no firm timeline has been set.
“We’re still working on when exactly this will be ready, but the plan is to get it running smoothly by Suzuka. Sakura is fully focused on making that happen,” he said.
So far, the Aston Martin and Honda partnership hasn’t gone as planned. It’s still early days, but the start has been rough for both sides.
The issues have already forced Aston Martin to rule out another race appearance, adding even more pressure at a time when the team can’t afford setbacks.
And even if progress is made in China, there’s still no certainty that all problems will be fixed by Suzuka. If delays continue, things could get worse quickly.
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