Honda has issued a statement following its disastrous double retirement at the Formula 1 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.
Honda continues to struggle for power and performance in 2026, as its much-vaunted return to F1 has so far proven challenging.
Although exact figures have not been released, Honda is as much as 100bhp down on its rivals, relegating Aston Martin to the back of the grid.
The struggles showed no signs of abating in Barcelona, as both cars qualified on the last row, some four and a half seconds off the pace of pole-sitter George Russell.
Race day proved more disappointing, as Alonso retired with battery failure, while Stroll’s race ended due to a gearbox problem.
Honda Racing Corporation President Koji Watanabe issued a statement after the race praising what he called “the challenging spirit” of the manufacturer.
“Thank you for your continued support. The start of the 2026 season has been very challenging for us. The current position is not where we want to be, however, in difficult times we rely on the challenging spirit that is part of Honda and HRC DNA.”
Honda make comparisons to 2015 disaster
Watanabe drew a comparison between Honda’s existing struggles and those it experienced during its last return to the sport in 2015 in McLaren, where it suffered similar reliability woes.
He did, however, believe that the manufacturer would eventually turn a corner with its reliability and performance.
“In 2015 we also faced a tough start, but we became stronger by never giving up. Everyone in the team continues to work hard to improve our 2026 power unit. Our relationship with Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1 team is growing stronger every day.
“The recent Spanish Grand Prix we had a team gathering which gave us the great opportunity to communicate openly and strengthen our trust. I also enjoyed speaking directly with many members of the team.
“As one team, we will continue to work hard together, building on this strong foundation. We will never give up, no matter what. We understand that the results so far have been frustrating, and we share that feeling.
“However, we believe that our hard work will pay off, and we will keep pushing forward. Please keep supporting us and fighting together with us.”
Honda is pushing hard, both on and off the track, to turn around its fortunes. The results should start to be seen in the second half of the season if it has truly addressed the sources of its problems.
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