Lawrence Stroll urges ‘patience’ as Aston Martin begins Honda era

Aston Martin F1’s future may be dressed in racing green, but its ambitions are painted in bold red and white.

As Formula 1 hurtles toward a sweeping regulation reset in 2026, team owner Lawrence Stroll has struck a familiar tone: excitement tempered with realism, and optimism anchored by patience.

The Silverstone-based outfit is preparing to enter uncharted territory as a full works team, embarking on a brand-new partnership with Honda after ending its long-standing customer relationship with Mercedes.

For Stroll, the opportunity is enormous – but so is the task ahead.

A New Era, A Different Challenge

The 2026 season will not simply mark another chapter for Aston Martin; it will redefine how the team operates at its core. Stroll sees the rule changes and the Honda alliance as a rare chance to reset and grow, even if that growth will not be instant.

"We're really looking forward to next year with a huge rule change. It's going to be another big step forward; we have Honda as our power unit partner, we're going to be a works team for the first time ever, it's a completely different experience," Stroll said, quoted by the Spanish edition of Motorsport.com.

That “different experience” cuts to the heart of why patience is essential. Unlike a customer deal, a works partnership demands deep technical integration – and time.

"Designing a chassis that fits a power unit is one thing, as opposed to having a customer engine and simply receiving it,” added the Canadian billionaire.

Stroll made clear that success in this new model cannot be rushed, especially with an all-new power unit entering the sport under unfamiliar regulations.

"You need time and patience for all of this to come together,” he explained. “It's a new power unit that we'll have next year. You have to give Honda the necessary time, hopefully, to develop that power unit."

High Expectations, Measured Progress

While Stroll is realistic about the development curve, he is not lowering the bar. On the contrary, he insists Aston Martin’s internal targets remain sky-high – even as the team gives Honda the breathing room it needs.

"Now we need to give everyone some time to come together and work to bring these exciting new rules and regulations coming next year up to our very high expectations – as high as they can possibly get,” Stroll concluded.

That confidence is not unfounded. Honda arrives with a glittering recent record, having powered Red Bull to four Drivers’ Championships with Max Verstappen and back-to-back Constructors’ titles in 2022 and 2023.

But with Red Bull now moving forward with its own power unit project alongside Ford, Aston Martin becomes Honda’s sole works focus – a partnership rich in potential, yet inevitably complex.

For Stroll, the message is clear: the pieces are in place, the ambition is unwavering, but greatness under a new set of rules will not be built overnight.

In a sport that thrives on immediacy, Aston Martin is betting that patience – paired with Honda’s pedigree – will pay the biggest dividends of all.

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