Lawrence Stroll's vital plea ahead of Aston Martin's F1 2026 key transition

22:00, 23 Dec

byNorberto Mujica

Lawrence Stroll, Aston Martin F1's owner, will oversee the outfit's transition into a full works team when its exclusive power unit deal with Japanese manufacturer Honda starts in 2026, and admits expectations couldn't be higher.

"We're really looking forward to next year with a huge rule change. It's going to be another big step forward."

Lawrence Stroll at the Aston Martin F1 team's pit wall. Photo: RacePictures.

After Honda chose to leave F1 following the 2021 season, they will be back as an official power unit supplier to Stroll Sr.'s Aston Martin outfit in 2026, ushering in a new era as a full-fledged constructor for the Silverstone-based racing stable.

"We're really looking forward to next year with a huge rule change. It's going to be another big step forward; we have Honda as our power unit partner, we're going to be a works team for the first time ever, it's a completely different experience," Stroll told Motorsport.

"Designing a chassis that fits a power unit is one thing, as opposed to having a customer engine and simply receiving it. You need time and patience for all of this to come together."

Fernando Alonso driving the AMR25 for the last time in Abu Dhabi. Photo: RacePictures.

Aston Martin's inner hype soars into F1 2026

For Aston Martin and Honda, Stroll thinks time to fit all the pieces together will be required amid the lofty expectations that are emerging within the team.

"It's a new power unit that we'll have next year. You have to give Honda the necessary time, hopefully, to develop that power unit," he added, noting the exponential increase of the expectations attatched to next year's reset.

"[Expectations] are very high, as high as they can be.

"Now we need to give everyone some time to come together and work to bring these exciting new rules and regulations coming next year up to our very high expectations—as high as they can possibly get," the Canadian team owner concluded.

Intense Honda-Newey chemistry ignites Aston Martin's path to glory

Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe expressed enthusiasm about working again with Adrian Newey, highlighting mutual respect and close collaboration at Aston Martin. Read his full statements here.

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