Red Bull has been warned, Aston Martin is aiming for the title in the short term

The alliance between Aston Martin and Honda HRC has already revealed its ambition for 2026. It was interviewed by our colleagues atAutomatic gamesKoji Watanabe, president of Honda Racing Corporation, was very clear:

“We want to be world champions in 2026”

It must be said that the team has seen significant improvements in this regard in recent years. Since its return in 2021, it has gone from seventh in the field to fifth in 2023. Before the Chinese GP, the team is behind Mercedes and already looks on top of the pace, if Lance Stroll did not crash. short performance of the car.

But with the addition of his main driver, Fernando Alonso, author of eight podiums last season, and the arrival of HRC, Lawrence Stroll continues to do everything to keep the position on his side. In the case of the Japanese company, we know very well that the road will be difficult to catch Red Bull or Ferrari, even if the new technical regulations for 2026 can change all the cards.

“We know it will be very difficult and not that easy, but we need to aim to do better with Aston Martin. That’s why, together with Stroll and Toshihiro Mibe (CEO and president of Honda) we set ourselves the goal of aiming for the world championship that year ( 2026).

A good collaboration between the Japanese engine manufacturer and the British team will be necessary to create the best single-seater. It is for the mistakes of the two development players that the boss of the sportsman at Honda wants to work.

“Maybe we’re missing something, but we need to know what we’re missing. What’s missing from Honda’s side and also what’s missing from Aston Martin’s side. It’s an open conversation to be the top team.”

Lawrence Stroll’s passion convinced the Japanese

If Honda began to return to F1 after officially withdrawing from its partnership with Red Bull, although they continue to develop power units for Red Bull Powertrains, the engine manufacturer was persuaded by the rear project of Aston Martin for its big return in 2026.

“After signing up as an engine supplier for 2026, other teams contacted us as they were interested in working with Honda. Then we talked to these parties and made a decision. Honda was very pleased with Mr. Stroll’s great enthusiasm and strong leadership to fight . for the world championship in 2026.”

The British team is hard at work on its new facilities in England, where Honda has also set up to support Aston. Discussions with team managers also seem to have played an important role in the arrival of the Japanese.

“They are investing a lot of money to set up the Silverstone factory. We visited them to see the factory that was being built. We also had several meetings with Martin Withmarsh and Mike Krack, who manages the factory. “The management team is very open and the whole team is working in one direction, it is a united team is a very good picture for us.

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