Aston Martin has introduced its intention to change into a Honda works staff in System 1 for the 2026 season, and we’ve already talked concerning the large stuff. We all know how vital it’ll be to compete as a works staff in 2026. We all know Aston Martin is ready to develop its personal racing machine. We even learn about Honda’s return to F1. Meaning there’s only one final unfastened finish: Fernando Alonso.
To say that tensions between Alonso and Honda run deep would in all probability be an understatement. Between 2015 and 2017, Alonso was a part of the McLaren staff that sourced its engines from Honda. The partnership was nowhere close to as profitable as was hoped, and Alonso raged towards Honda’s “GP2 engines” — by which he meant that driving Honda’s energy unit was like driving a feeder collection car. Because of this, Alonso and Honda didn’t precisely half on one of the best of phrases.
However Alonso is in superb type in 2023. As part of the Aston Martin program, Alonso has completed on the rostrum in all however one race this yr, securing him a cushty third place general within the Championship as we head into the Monaco Grand Prix. He’s appeared to be a revitalized competitor, one prepared to supply mid-race recommendation and encouragement to his younger teammate Lance Stroll — and undoubtedly not the identical man who had appeared so defeated again in 2016.
It could appear unusual to be speaking about Alonso sticking round within the sport till 2026, however the 41-year-old has already voiced his intentions to proceed competing for “a couple of extra years.” He has his sights set on one other Championship. Aston Martin will stay a Mercedes buyer staff for 2 and a half extra years, nevertheless it does sound like Alonso can be ready to hang around till 2026 if he was assured that Aston Martin would preserve him round.
Fortunately for Alonso, it seems like each Aston and Honda are prepared to see how issues go.
“Alonso is an impressive driver, and at Honda, we respect him,” Koji Watanabe, President of Honda Racing Company (HRC) mentioned in a press convention preview of the information. “But it surely’s as much as the staff to pick the drivers.”
Martin Whitmarsh, Group CEO of the Aston Martin Efficiency Applied sciences, continued the thread of dialog.
“The [drama] stems from one thing Fernando mentioned within the warmth of battle, which is regrettable,” he famous. “[Alonso] is a really nice driver, and I feel he’s developed his interested by driving and about being a staff member since then.
“If he’s driving with the identical vitality, dedication, talent, and pace in 2026 [as he is in 2023], we’ll be delighted to have him on the staff.”
Fernando Alonso / Aston Martin championship in 2026, anybody?
