Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll says partnering with Honda for the 2026 season is the “final piece of the puzzle” in establishing them as a title-winning team, and the Canadian has no doubt the partnership between the two will be a success.
Honda has announced that it will make a full-scale return to the sport in 2026, having left Formula 1 at the end of the 2021 campaign, and has made the decision to partner with Aston Martin as a complete power unit supplier.
ANALYSIS: How and why Honda and Aston Martin teamed up for 2026
speaking in the world slingshot At the press conference where the announcement was made, Stroll called the partnership a “hugely significant” moment for Aston Martin in Formula 1 and was confident the two would “win together”.
“Welcome Honda to our Aston Martin family,” said Stroll. “A partnership with Honda is a very important moment for Aston Martin. Honda is a global titan, and its success in motorsport, especially F1, is impressive and longstanding.
“Six drivers, six constructors’ titles and 89 victories. Express gratitude, deep gratitude to [Honda CEO] Mister [Toshihiro] mibe and [President of Honda Racing Corporation] Mister [Koji] Watanabe for seeing the potential of Aston Martin Formula 1 together with Honda. Aston Martin Formula 1 and Honda have much in common, including engineering excellence and a long-term commitment and passion to win.
“Honda and its engineers are racers and they love to develop their product in competition. Racing is part of his DNA and always has been. Racing has also been part of Aston Martin’s DNA for the past 110 years. This is our 110th anniversary and together we will win together.”
He added: “Formula 1 has never been in a better place. It is the fastest growing sports league in recent years, with a global television audience of 1.6 billion. We pay tribute to F1 and the FIA for regulations that focus on the environment [impact]sustainability, cost reduction, while promoting state-of-the-art technology”.
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Aston Martin have made a bright start to the 2023 season, as they currently sit second in the constructors’ championship with 102 points, albeit 122 points behind leaders Red Bull, and Stroll believes joining forces with Honda will help them deliver. the step towards the fight for the title.
“Our partnership with Honda is the final piece of the puzzle in establishing Aston Martin as a top team, capable of winning titles,” added Stroll. “Combined with our new campus, we are giving the team all the tools it needs to win.
“To establish Aston Martin at the pinnacle of the sport, we need to exploit every area of our technical package and now a bespoke PU. [power unit] it is the last most important step on that journey.
“The 2026 regulations will create a reset for all PU manufacturers and Honda’s experience and insights, with the focus on carbon neutrality, sustainability and electrification, are the perfect match for Aston Martin.”
Stroll also admitted that Honda’s championship-winning success with Red Bull in 2021 and 2022 was a key selling point in Aston Martin’s decision.
“Honda has an illustrious history of success in Formula 1. We have been impressed by Honda’s journey to deliver a championship-winning engine in both 2021 and 22 and it was an easy decision for us to choose to join forces,” said Stroll. .
“In conclusion, [it is] It is a deep and sincere thrill that these two great companies are coming together in a working powerhouse and I have no doubt that we will achieve success in the very near future.”