Aston Martin has seen their performance improve significantly midway through the 2025 season. Significant updates to their AMR25 vehicle are helping drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll gain ground on team championship standings; specifically Alonso has gained points in five of six races recently alone; signifying significant strides made against initial struggles of this campaign.
Focus for Aston Martin has recently shifted towards 2026 season with Honda engines expected to play an instrumental part in increasing competitive edge for Aston Martin.
Honda Elevates Aston Martin’s Championship Hopes
Becoming a manufacturer is a dream for many Formula 1 teams, offering control and integration benefits that have proven successful for teams like Mercedes. Aston Martin’s agreement with Honda, signed in May 2023, marks a transition from being a customer team to assuming a manufacturer’s role, granting them complete oversight of their car’s development.
With recent upgrades to their facilities, including a new wind tunnel and simulation technology, Aston Martin is poised for significant advancements. The correlation between these technological investments and on-track performance is already showing promise.
A strong power unit from Honda could be the key to unlocking Aston Martin’s potential, allowing them to compete at the forefront of the grid.
The Competitive Landscape of F1 in 2026
Formula 1 will become even more competitive in 2026 as five manufacturers, such as Ferrari, Mercedes, Honda, Audi and Red Bull Powertrains unveil new engines. Although Honda faces certain obstacles when competing against newcomers like Audi or Red Bull Powertrains.
Honda engines must meet or surpass Mercedes and Ferrari standards in performance and reliability for Aston Martin to remain competitive and hold on to championship contention.