Honda, the power unit provider for Aston Martin, has confirmed its target to make two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso a title contender once again.
Alonso will decide after the summer break whether he will stay at Aston Martin and, on a larger scale, in F1. The Spaniard has made clear his unfavourable opinions of the 2026 regulations, and it has been reported that the two-time champion could be eyeing up a spot at Alpine for 2027.
Following a disastrous start to the 2026 F1 season, Aston Martin and Honda introduced a huge package of 16 upgrades to their cars at the Hungarian Grand Prix. It seemed to bring positive results, with both Alonso and teammate Lance Stroll recording season-high finishes of 14th and 13th, respectively.
Honda: Making Alonso a title contender is the target
In a recent interview with RacingNews365, Honda’s chief engineer Shintaro Orihara emphasised the importance of Alonso’s technical feedback.
“He has 20 years of experience. So if Fernando says ‘we need this deployment before going into a corner’, then we should respect his opinion.”
Alonso’s most recent title came nearly 20 years ago in 2006, when he won with Renault. The last time he was a real title contender was back in 2013, when he finished second in the championship behind Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel. Honda’s goal, Orihara says, is to buck this trend.
“That is our target, definitely. So we are working closely, and we know he is a great driver.
“He has a big passion, and he trusts Honda. So we want to bring what he wants, that is definitely our target.”
Alonso: F1 future decision is not about performance, but regulations
Despite the rumours surrounding his F1 future, Alonso insists that his ultimate decision doesn’t depend on Aston Martin, but more about the rules of the sport.
Following the team’s Hungary performance in its heavily-upgraded car, Alonso reacted positively to the result, expressing hope for a “new start to the championship”. However, his relationship with the new, wider power unit regulations given by the FIA is more strained.
“Driving these cars in places like Spa or Silverstone is not what I’m dreaming of for my future,” he told the media. “So we’ll see.”
Alonso directly referenced the Belgium and British Grands Prix, which were not suited to the energy deployment-centric nature of the cars’ new power units.
Aston Martin team principal Adrian Newey has previously expressed confidence that Alonso will remain with the team beyond 2026.
“I’m pretty confident that Fernando is enjoying his time with us and that we will continue with our relationship,” he said.
Aston Martin and Honda have endured a trying year, but the fightback has now begun, with hopes high.
However, the first clue on whether Orihara’s ambition for Alonso and Honda will become a reality or not will come in Zandvoort when Honda’s new power unit makes its much-anticipated debut.
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