Once Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz have renewed with their respective teams, there remains only one major question to resolve in the Formula 1 market: What Fernando Alonso will do. At 45 years old, the Asturian has on the table the option to renew with Aston Martin, but he could also opt for retirement.
To Alonso’s renewal campaign, a very heavy contender has just joined: Honda. In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, Koji Watanabe, the president of HRC, has asked Aston Martin to renew Alonso for a simple reason: the quality of his technical feedback is crucial for Honda’s development.
Honda confirms that it has brought back staff from the Red Bull era
The Dutch Grand Prix was a success for Aston Martin. Fernando Alonso achieved his best result of the season, a ninth-place finish after a comeback, but there was still a nagging feeling: the Honda engine did not improve as much as expected. Precisely from Japan they are asking that Alonso stay with the team to progress.
Koji Watanabe, president of HRC and the top executive in charge of Honda’s Formula 1 project, has made that clear. The Japanese executive explained that “for Honda it is extremely important to work with Fernando Alonso. His feedback about the car is very precise and really helps us push our development forward”.
Alonso’s contract with Aston Martin runs out at the end of the season, and there is speculation about whether he will renew or retire from Formula 1 for good. The latest rumors point to a 1+1 contract. That is, a first guaranteed year and a second optional year, presumably for Alonso, who could decide again next season.
Watanabe elaborates on Honda’s request, stating that “We want to continue working with Alonso. Facing a challenge alongside a driver with such extraordinary passion is very, very important for Honda. And even though right now we are not in the position we want, alongside Alonso our objective is to become one of the Formula 1’s leading teams.”
On the other hand, the Japanese engineer has also provided some interesting hints about how Honda is operating. Watanabe confirms that personnel who worked on the Red Bull engine have returned to the Formula 1 project. “Not all of them, but yes the important people who worked there have returned to the F1 project“, he assures.
In the coming weeks we should know Fernando Alonso’s definitive decision. For now, Honda is joining the renewal race.
Images | Aston Martin, Honda
