Honda-Newey 'intense' chemistry sets Aston Martin on path to victory

17:48, 16 Dec

Updated: 18:49, 16 Dec

byNorberto Mujica

Honda Racing Corporation President Koji Watanabe notes the familiarity of working hand-in-hand with F1 design guru Adrian Newey.

“It’s very exciting that he’s here and, of course, there is huge respect for him and his capabilities."

- Koji Watanabe

Adrian Newey. Photo: RacePictures

Since 2019 Honda became the power unit supplier for Red Bull Racing, while Newey was still working as a technical advisor for the Austrian team. The tri-partite collaboration cemented Red Bull's second title-clinching era and Verstappen's consumation as one of the most successful drivers of the modern era.

With Newey leaving Red Bull Racing in 2024 and joining Aston Martin earlier this year, and Honda partnering with the Lawrence Stroll-owned team as of the F1 2026 season, the British legend and the Japanese manufacturer have crossed paths yet again.

“We laughed a lot in the first meeting after he joined Aston Martin Aramco – it was very much a case of: ‘Well, here we are again!’," Watanabe told Aston Martin in an interview published in the Silverstone-based team's website.

“It’s very exciting that he’s here and, of course, there is huge respect for him and his capabilities," the President of HRC added.

Newey and Honda join forces to take Aston Martin to the top of F1

“In terms of power unit development, we have our processes and timetable for making a power unit that is capable and competitive and Adrian has been working from day one on doing the same for the chassis," Watanabe continued.

"So we’re working very closely and communicating a great deal at the point where those two things meet."

Watanabe then clarified Newey is one of the main communication points for Hoda. “Adrian is one of the people I communicate with frequently and it’s often a quite intense exchange of opinions, suggestions and feedback – but always with the focus on winning," the Japanese added.

“Whenever we’re having a technical discussion about components or development, it’s always with the long-term focus on how we get the win.

“And that can be about anything: it might be a very detailed design issue, but equally it might be about competitor analysis, or how to manage people to get the best out of them, or even finance and using the limitations of the cost cap most effectively,” Watanabe concluded.

Honda makes candid F1 admission

Honda will return to F1 in 2026 as a full power unit supplier, partnering with Aston Martin to power the cars driven by Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. The 2026 Honda power unit will be revealed on January 20 in Tokyo, with leadership from Honda, F1 and Aston Martin present. Read the full story here.

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