Fernando Alonso has greeted Aston Martin’s upcoming partnership with Honda as “very exciting” news for the team, saying it underscores their “desire and potential” to succeed in their goal of moving to the front of the F1 field.
Aston Martin returned to F1 just over two years ago, posting successive P7s in the 2021 and 2022 constructors’ standings, but the Silverstone team has moved up this season to second after five Grands Prix.
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Four of those races yielded podium finishes for new signing Alonso, who feels Aston Martin’s decision to swap out Mercedes-supplied power units for a working deal with Honda when motor regulations 2026 kicking is the next logical step.
“This is very good news for the team, very exciting,” Alonso said. “I think it shows Aston Martin’s commitment to really win races, win championships in the future, be independent, build their own gearboxes and everything to do with the car.
“It’s the only way, probably, to really be 100% sure that you’re in control of everything in your package, in your car. It’s a great sign for everyone at Aston Martin that there is the desire and the potential to win.”
Alonso was then asked if he thinks he will be available to race Aston Martin-Honda, and if he has any problems using one of the Japanese manufacturer’s engines again, given his troubled meeting with Honda from 2015-2017.
Alonso spent all three seasons at McLaren, suffering a series of engine failures and grid penalties, and failed to finish higher than fifth, before Honda embarked on a more successful season with Toro Rosso (now AlphaTauri) and Red Bull.
“I don’t know what I’ll do in 2026,” added the two-time world champion, who would have been 44 at that stage. “I’ll be lying if I tell you that I know right now. Of course I feel fresh, I feel motivated now, I feel strong, still fast. If I continue to enjoy myself, I will love to continue competing.
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“I know one day I’ll wake up and maybe I won’t feel motivated or happy to keep traveling and all this kind of stuff. Or maybe I’m not feeling fast and I’ll be the first to raise my hand and say, ‘Maybe it’s time.’
“Let’s see. I think it’s a long way to 2026. I’ll focus first on Monaco now, because I think it’s an important weekend, and then this season, then next season, and hopefully we can take another step and fight for bigger things.
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“Going back to racing with Honda will not be a problem for me. I know it didn’t work last time [at McLaren] in 2015, 2016, 2017. But I think they showed that they now have a competitive package.
“They won the championship [with Red Bull] in 2021, they won the championship in 2022, most likely they will win the championship in 2023. It’s a new set of rules, but I think it will be a very exciting project for sure.