Alonso: A ‘true pleasure’ to work once again with Honda

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Fernando Alonso says Aston Martin’s upcoming partnership with Honda was an important part of his decision to remain with the Silverstone-based outfit.

On Thursday, it was announced that the F1 veteran had extended his allegiance to Aston until at least 2026, precisely the year of Honda’s arrival as the F1 outfit’s engine partner.

Alonso’s reunion with the Japanese manufacturer marks a significant development for both parties.

Their previous collaboration with McLaren was marred by public tensions caused by the reliability and performance issues suffered by Honda’s hardware, a dismal situation that led to an early termination of the contract between the engine supplier and team papaya.

However, seven years later that’s now water under the bridge, with Alonso acknowledging that “it didn’t work out at McLaren” while feeling very enthusiastic and motivated about committing to a new perspective with Honda.

Read also: Alonso in for long haul with Aston Martin ‘lifetime project’

"Part of the decision to stay at Aston is because they are with Honda for 2026. It was very, very important to me," Alonso said.

"Honda is definitely a manufacturer that has so much success in Formula 1 and in the world of motorsport, it was always a company that I respected.

"It didn't work for us at McLaren, in the years that they came to the sport, but right after that they fixed all the problems and they are currently dominating the sport.

"I think they will have a baseline for 2026 that is already very strong, but also they have the capacity in Sakura of building something really nice.

"After the experience with McLaren-Honda and IndyCar as well, we have now the opportunity to work again together. That for me is a true pleasure."

Alonso was equally upbeat about Aston Martin’s partnership with Aramco in the context of Formula 1’s switch to 100% sustainable fuels in 2026 when the next generation of hybrid power units is introduced.

"Obviously, with the sustainable fuels that we will have in 2026, this is something that I would love to experiment [with]," explained the two-time world champion. "We have a great partner in Aramco, so I see a win-win situation.

"In 2026 we are going into the unknown for sure in terms of regulations, but if I have to choose one, my feeling is I will choose our project, our engine and our power unit.

"Firstly, because I think they are dominating the sport, they have a very, very strong engine on Red Bull and AlphaTauri [RB].

"And secondly, because with the new fuels and the new regulations, they will have all the tools available to succeed."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.