Adrian Newey delivers blunt Red Bull comparison over Honda's Aston Martin struggles
Photo: Race Pictures
Henry Eccles is a freelance Formula 1 journalist for GPblog, covering breaking news, live race blogs, and features across the F1 calendar. Since joining in 2026, he has produced high-volume reporting on the sport’s biggest stories, alongside feature pieces including analysis and historical content.
Aston Martin team principal Adrian Newey has revealed that Honda are disappointed with their lack of progress since returning to F1 with the British outfit. Newey also said the Japanese manufacturer are further "behind" the competition than when they first joined him at Red Bull in 2019.
Despite a difficult start to their partnership, the legendary F1 designer has nonetheless backed Honda to turn things around at Aston Martin, with Fernando Alonso's P8 result in Malaysia the best result the team in green have secured this season. The Silverstone-based squad are P10 in the Constructors', with only newcomers Cadillac behind them.
Two rounds after only Alonso's third points finish of 2026, Newey provided an update on Honda and Aston Martin's progress during Friday's FIA press conference ahead of the US GP. Newey revealed a sense of disappointment with Honda's own efforts to improve their power unit.
"I think it's fair to say that Honda have probably been a little bit disappointed with how much progress they have managed to make this year," Newey explained.
"But as always, or as is so often the case in that situation, it only strengthens resolve to go forward in the future. The future is obviously the important bit for both companies. They are very determined. These things don't change overnight, but they have a lot of good people, a lot of good processes now in place.”
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Newey makes Honda-Red Bull comparison
Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
Newey's former colleague Christian Horner, among other comments related to the pair's time at Milton Keynes, has recently said Aston Martin's situation bears resemblance to the early days at Red Bull.
The 67-year-old agreed there were "parallels," but admitted on Friday that Honda are further behind now than they were at Red Bull in 2019.
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"At the moment, in all truth, Honda are a little bit behind where Red Bull, as the works team, RBR, picked up Honda in ’19," Newey explained, but added the caveat: "That obviously was four seasons after they first came back in ’15. So, this is the first year back in.
“They are a great company. I have every confidence that they will accelerate quickly and understand the problems of these particular PU regulations.”
Focusing on Honda's trajectory going into the 2027 season and beyond, an optimistic Newey added: "There's a lot of energy and projects on the way now that perhaps are in their early stages of development, but we see a lot of promise from those.
"It's too early to comment on exactly where the PU will be at the start of next season, and whether then, assuming it's allowed under the PUAC, there will be further development for what will be race eight at the end of the first period."
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