Honda Racing President Koji Watanabe reflected on the end of the Japanese manufacturer’s current partnership with Red Bull Racing, describing it as one of the most successful collaborations in Formula 1 history, as attention turns to its future works alliance with Aston Martin.
Speaking during Honda’s final home Grand Prix as Red Bull partners, Watanabe told The Japan Times: “Looking back now, we're very proud of the results that we have achieved with this partnership. Especially with Yuki [Tsunoda] being here at a home race, racing for Red Bull... it’s a very important and very significant weekend.”
Max Verstappen’s dominant win at Suzuka marked his fourth consecutive victory at Honda’s home circuit and capped a decade-long journey for the company in the hybrid era that began with considerable difficulty, according to best Netflix deals of 2025.
Watanabe recalled the early struggles following Honda’s 2015 return with McLaren: “Our Honda staff... struggled in a way because it was something new that they had to put all their effort into for the first three years.”
After McLaren split with Honda in 2017, Red Bull junior team Toro Rosso became the manufacturer’s sole customer. That partnership paved the way for a successful tie-up with Red Bull Racing in 2019, which culminated in four consecutive drivers’ titles for Verstappen and unprecedented dominance in 2023.
Watanabe: We’re not starting from zero this time
Despite officially exiting F1 after 2021, Honda continued to support Red Bull through the Honda RBPT programme. But a new chapter begins in 2026, with Honda confirmed as Aston Martin’s works power unit supplier under the next-generation hybrid regulations.
Watanabe expressed confidence in Honda’s preparations: “We had discontinued the project with Formula One so we were not prepared in 2015. We started from zero. Now we’re not starting from zero, so it is a smoother development.”
He also praised the collaboration with Aston Martin, who finished fifth in the 2024 constructors’ standings and aim to challenge at the front from 2026 onwards. A significant technical addition for Honda is Adrian Newey, who joined Aston Martin in March and will focus on the 2026 car.
“It is an honour to work together again with Newey at Aston Martin,” Watanabe said. “We will work together to create a competitive F1 car.”
Tsunoda future unclear as Honda loses driver leverage
One challenge for Honda will be the reduced influence over driver placements. While Red Bull offered four potential seats across its two teams, Aston Martin’s tighter structure limits those options — with one seat likely occupied by team owner Lawrence Stroll’s son, Lance.
Watanabe acknowledged the issue: “The number of seats will be reduced. However, as for us, we will continue to voice our opinions as Honda in deciding the drivers for 2026 and beyond. Obviously the team has the final say... but the situation will be the same [as with Red Bull] where we will have our say.”
As speculation swirls around the long-term future of F1’s hybrid power units, with FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem suggesting a possible return to fully combustion engines using sustainable fuels, Watanabe declined to comment ahead of talks expected during the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend.
But he reiterated Honda’s core commitment to hybrid technology: “Our stance hasn’t changed. Electric is important to us and that is the reason why we continue to join.” Watch live F1 with streaming bundle deals.
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