Aston Martin dismiss need to 'make peace' with Honda amid 2026 troubles

The team in green have suffered a nightmare start to the season, plagued mostly by an extreme vibration issue on the Honda engine which has raised driver health concerns and prevented Aston from completing a race until the third round in Japan.

At Suzuka, Krack was asked whether a handshake spotted on the starting grid between team owner Lawrence Stroll and Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe meant that "peace had been made in Honda land."

While there certainly has not been any major public spat between team and engine supplier, Newey has previously said he was unaware of Honda's current lack of experience - after their U-turn to return to F1 in 2023 - while Watanabe said the engine's vibration level was "acceptable" before integration of Newey's AMR26 chassis design.

However, Krack laughed off the idea that there was a rift between Aston Martin and Honda, instead emphasising a "good relationship" between them.

Krack said: "There was no need to make peace, because we have a good relationship. We came here, we know that this is the home race of our partner.

Despite his on-track struggles, the Japanese Grand Prix weekend was a joyous one for Aston Martin's Alonso, who became a father for the very first time.

The 44-year-old missed the Thursday media day and FP1 at Suzuka before confirming that his partner Melissa Jimenez had given birth to a baby boy, but his name had been under wraps until now.