Honda rules out emergency engine supply for Red Bull in 2026

Honda has categorically dismissed the possibility of extending its engine supply partnership with Red Bull into 2026, quashing rumors that it could serve as a fallback option should Red Bull’s in-house power unit program encounter setbacks.

The Japanese manufacturer, which has powered Red Bull Racing to four consecutive drivers’ championships and two constructors’ titles since their collaboration began in 2019, is set to part ways with the Milton Keynes-based team at the end of 2025.

With Red Bull now forging ahead with its ambitious Red Bull Powertrains division, Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe has made it clear that a last-minute supply deal would not be feasible.

The speculation arose as Red Bull prepares to become the first non-manufacturer team in Formula 1 history to design and build its own hybrid power units for the 2026 season, when new regulations emphasizing electrification and sustainable fuels take effect.

Red Bull’s venture, conducted in partnership with Ford, is a bold step into uncharted territory. Despite no concrete evidence suggesting delays or issues in Red Bull’s program, questions linger about the competitiveness and reliability of its inaugural power unit, prompting whispers of Honda as a potential safety net.

Watanabe, however, was unequivocal in rejecting such a scenario.

“That is not possible at all,” he told AS Web. “Even if we were asked to do it now, it would be too late to make it in time for 2026. The chances are zero.”

Honda’s New Path with Aston Martin

Honda’s decision to rule out a Red Bull reunion is a result of shift to a new works partnership with Aston Martin, secured after a strategic U-turn on its initial 2020 plan to exit F1 permanently.

The allure of the 2026 regulations, which align with Honda’s expertise in electrification and sustainability, prompted its return. By the time Honda recommitted, Red Bull had already invested heavily in its new powertrain facility, leaving Honda to align with Aston Martin for 2026.

Development is well underway, with Honda and Aston Martin collaborating closely to integrate the new power unit with a bespoke gearbox designed by the Silverstone team.

Watanabe expressed confidence in the progress of this partnership, highlighting the rigorous testing process already in motion.

“Of course, that is a power unit for testing and not the final specification,” he explained.

“We combine the latest products at the time with each other at the testing stage, and we do tests in the UK and in Japan.

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“We don't do the tests at the same time. When we do it in Japan, we do it in Japan only, and it's not just the things that are tested, but also the people who are present at the same time, and HRC staff and Aston Martin staff work together, and we've already done multiple tests.

“The gearboxes that Aston Martin is producing are gradually approaching the final specification, and we will continue to test them.”

Red Bull Stands Alone for 2026 and Beyond

The end of Honda’s partnership with Red Bull marks the close of a highly successful chapter, having delivered dominant performances through Max Verstappen’s title-winning campaigns and Red Bull’s constructors’ triumphs in 2021-2024.

However, the complexities of modern F1 power units, coupled with the tight timelines of the 2026 regulation overhaul, make any extension of that relationship logistically impossible, according to Watanabe.

As Red Bull moves into the unknown with its powertrains division, Honda is fully committed to its new chapter with Aston Martin, leaving no room for a fallback plan.

For the bulls, the focus now is on ensuring its in-house engine program delivers, with no safety net from its former partner.

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