Cowell hails ‘exciting’ Aston Martin-Honda shift as works era nears

Aston Martin is gearing up for a transformative chapter in its Formula 1 journey, with team boss Andy Cowell expressing unbridled enthusiasm for the team’s shift to a works outfit in partnership with Japanese powerhouse Honda starting in 2026.

The move, which sees Aston Martin part ways with long-time powertrain supplier Mercedes, marks a pivotal moment for the team as it embraces a new era of innovation, collaboration, and ambition under the guidance of legendary designer Adrian Newey.

Cowell, speaking to reporters in Singapore last weekend, highlighted the natural alignment between Aston Martin and Honda, emphasizing their shared engineering ethos.

“Yeah, Honda’s going great. They’re an engineering-led organisation, just like Aston Martin,” he said.

“They’re innovative, their sense of passion and commitment and courage is huge. I’m flying to Sakura on Monday, spending a couple of days with them after the race on Sunday.”

A Seamless Synergy with Honda

The two manufacturers’ association comes at a critical juncture, coinciding with Formula 1’s sweeping regulatory overhaul for 2026, and with Honda is approaching the latter with a renewed focus on cutting-edge power unit technology.

Cowell underscored the excitement of this transition, particularly the shift from being a customer team to a works outfit with greater control over critical components.

“It’s an exciting time for the team to take that transition from a customer team, where you have very little say in what goes on at the rear of the car, to having all the debates about what the front of the power unit should look like, how do we do the cooling, how do we integrate with the transmission, how do we pull it all together,” he explained.

Central to this process is Newey, the celebrated designer who joined Aston Martin in March. The legendary engineer’s prior experience with Honda during his Red Bull tenure has proven invaluable in smoothing the integration process.

“I guess that’s where Adrian being on board since March is really helpful,” Cowell noted. “He’s got experience working with Honda, so there’s a natural understanding there already as to what can be pushed and what can’t. So yeah, exciting times.”

Newey’s expertise is expected to elevate Aston Martin’s competitiveness as the team designs a car tailored to Honda’s power unit for the new regulations.

Embracing the Challenge of 2026

The 2026 season will usher in a raft of changes, including new power units, advanced sustainable fuels, and revamped aerodynamics, chassis designs, and materials. Cowell acknowledged the formidable task ahead for Aston Martin and its rivals.

“Yeah, it’s a big challenge for all the teams,” he said. “Lots of new technology – power unit, advanced sustainable fuels, aerodynamics, materials development, chassis design, transmissions – it’s the whole car.”

Despite the complexity, Cowell’s optimism is palpable.

“It’s exciting, it’s an exciting challenge. None of us can move that first test date or the first race date,” he remarked.

“We’re all pushing as hard as we can to innovate and create performance. But we all know that you don’t get any points unless you finish, and we’ve got that eternal balance to make.”

• Read also: Honda 2026 engine fitting ‘hand in glove’ with Aston chassis - Cowell

Cowell also hinted at the unpredictability and thrill that the new regulations will bring to the sport.

“I think it’s going to be exciting racing, exciting testing compared with the last few years where you do a few days,” he said. “It’ll be interesting to see how it all unfolds, but we’re certainly looking forward to it.”

As Aston Martin readies itself for its next evolution, Cowell’s optimism reflects a team eager to blend engineering ambition with proven experience – and a belief that its new partnership could power it toward the sport’s top tier.

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