Honda unveils in Tokyo all-new 2026 F1 power unit

©Honda

40

In Tokyo on Tuesday, Honda unveiled its next-generation F1 hybrid engine that will spearhead Aston Martin’s factory-backed assault in the sport’s new era.

For the Silverstone-based outfit, the alliance signals a clean break from its customer-engine past with Mercedes and the start of a long-term technical marriage aimed squarely at the front of the grid.

Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe, Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali, and Aston Martin Executive Chairman Lawrence Stroll were all present to celebrate the launch of Honda’s new power unit, striking an optimistic tone about what lies ahead as the countdown to the new regulations continues.

A New Hybrid Heart and a New Identity

At the centre of attention was the RA626H power unit, engineered from the ground up to meet Formula 1’s next set of technical rules.

Honda says the project has pushed its hybrid technology to new levels of efficiency, reflecting lessons learned across decades of motorsport competition.

The reveal was also about identity. Every Aston Martin powered by the RA626H will carry a refreshed “H” emblem, a subtle but deliberate rebrand that underscores the evolving role of Honda Racing Corporation.

©Honda

The message is clear: Formula 1 remains a high-speed laboratory, with innovations destined to filter down from the pit lane to Honda’s road cars.

For Aston Martin, the partnership comes with ambitious expectations. Honda’s recent record – highlighted by multiple constructors’ titles and four drivers’ championships with Red Bull – offers a tantalising benchmark for what might be possible.

That confidence was echoed by Stroll, who highlighted the depth of cooperation already taking shape between the two organisations.

“The strong collaboration between the AMR Technology Centre at Silverstone and Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) in Sakura demonstrates the depth of our partnership,” said the Canadian billionaire.

“We are confident that we have all the elements required to fight for victory in the future and we have tremendous faith in Honda’s power unit and the engineers behind it.

“Our journey won’t always be easy and challenges inevitably lie ahead, but winning is what drives both companies forward and together we look forward to many successful years of partnership.”

As Formula 1 accelerates toward a new hybrid era, Honda and Aston Martin have made their intentions unmistakably clear in Tokyo: this is not just a return, but a bid to shape what comes next.

Read also:

Honda sounds alarm on 2026 engine: ‘Not everything is going well’

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook

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.