Honda has admitted that its new Formula 1 power unit may struggle for pace in 2026 ahead of its much anticipated return to the sport with Aston Martin.
Officially returning to the sport in 2026, Honda has new partner for its next chapter in F1, partnering with Aston Martin as a works engine manufacturer.
Launching their power unit in Tokyo, alarm bells are already ringing that a period of history Honda would rather forget its about to repeat itself.
Partnering with McLaren for its return back in 2015 for the introduction of the turbo hybrid power units, the manufacturer badly underestimated the regulations, leading to a costly divorce.
Koji Watanabe, President of Honda Racing Corporation acknowledged that Honda could be behind the curve once again in its first year back in the sport.
“Of course, if we are going to compete, we are committed to winning,” he said at the launch.
“However, the 2026 regulations are technically extremely challenging, and perhaps we will struggle.
“At this stage, before any on-track testing, we don’t know the gap to our rivals, so we’ll have to wait and see once testing begins. In the long term, we aim to fight for championships.”
Honda reveals depth of issues
In a telling reveal, Tetsushi Kakuda, Honda’s F1 project leader, admitted issues with the internal combustion engine could cause issues in the opening races.
“The electrification side is progressing as planned,” he said.
“However, that is not necessarily the case for the internal combustion engine.
“Ultimately, a lot depends on the amount of development time available. Taking that into account, we believe we have done everything we can to the fullest extent.”
READ MORE: Honda and Aston Martin launch groundbreaking 2026 power unit
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