Honda has today held an event in Tokyo, Japan to mark the official launch of its power unit (PU) partnership with the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team. The two will work closely together as part of a works agreement starting with the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship.
Speeches at today’s event were made by Toshihiro Mibe, Global CEO of Honda, Stefano Domenicali, President & CEO of Formula 1 and Lawrence Stroll, Executive Chairman of Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team.
In 1964, when Honda had only just begun selling automobiles, the company took on the challenge of participating in F1 — the world’s most prestigious automobile race series.
By overcoming numerous difficulties, the manufacturer claimed its first-ever F1 victory in the second year at the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix. Since then, from the mid-1980s through the early 1990s, Honda flourished in a golden era, together with Williams and McLaren. While, more recently, the brand has produced a number of dramatic moments, including winning the Drivers’ Championship title together with Red Bull Racing.
Honda participation in F1, the pinnacle of automobile racing, has been the embodiment of the spirit of the company founder, Soichiro Honda, who inspired Honda engineers to “commit to becoming No.1 in the world,” and to “take on the most difficult challenges.” It is also the starting point of the long-cherished approach at Honda to embrace difficult challenges.
This season, F1 will undergo a major change in regulations for both the chassis and PU. For the latter, the electrical power output produced by the motor and battery will be increased to roughly three times its current output, and the use of advanced sustainable fuel will be required for the engine.
Machines powered by the RA626H will bear a new H mark with a refreshed design, Honda adopted as the new symbol representing its automobile business. This symbolises the transformation of its automobile business and will be used for F1 machines and manufacturer machines within other motorsport series – given the intention to compete in IndyCar, Super GT, Super Formula Championship and Super Taikyu Series.
Furthermore, Honda will leverage the technologies and expertise that HRC amasses through F1 and other motorsports activities to introduce HRC-spec production models that offer further refined driving performance. This will enable the brand’s motorsports activities to contribute even more to the enhancement of its automobile business.
Honda will utilise F1 technologies as a starting point to further facilitate technological innovation for a wide range of mobility for land, sea, skies and outer space, and contribute to the advancement of mobility products and services for the realisation of a sustainable society.
In recent years, thanks to broadcast partners, social media content, global streaming services, popular series like Netflix’s ‘Drive To Survive’ and movies like ‘F1 The Movie,’ the fan base for F1 racing is growing rapidly around the world with 827m global fans in 2025.
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Formula 1 began racing in Japan in 1976 before moving to Suzuka in 1987, so there is a deep loyalty and connection to the country where a record 13 World Drivers’ Championships have been decided over the years, with the most high profile finishes involving Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost. The sport is growing in Japan where there are now nearly 17 million passionate and incredible F1 fans.