Honda and Aston Martin are turning out to be the big disappointment of the 2026 Formula 1 season. All the high hopes placed in a marquee project featuring Adrian Newey, Fernando Alonso, and plenty of money were dashed when it emerged that Honda’s new engine was light-years behind the competition.
Now it has fallen to Koji Watanabe, CEO of HRC, to offer explanations in an interview for As-Web Japan about what happened. Honda’s chief apologizes to Alonso and Aston Martin because he acknowledges that they underestimated the rule changes and allocated too little staff to the project.
Honda acknowledges that it underestimated the new regulations
Honda has done it again. Twelve years after the last regulation change in Formula 1, Honda has produced yet another engine that is very weak and leagues behind the competition, keeping Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin in limbo. Koji Watanabe, the CEO of HRC, has had to explain what is happening.
Watanabe explains that “it’s true, we didn’t have enough staff at the start of development”, referring to rumors that have been circulating in the paddock since preseason. Not only that, but Honda had actually moved all the previous personnel away to put novices in charge of their engines.
Recall that Honda won four consecutive drivers’ championships between 2021 and 2024 with Max Verstappen, adding two more constructors’ titles with Red Bull in 2022 and 2023. However, all the people responsible for that engine were reassigned to work on solar panels, detached from the new project for the regulation that came into effect in 2026.
After the initial upheaval of 2026, Honda brought back part of that expert staff, who are already working on improving the engine. Watanabe believes that the team we’ve reinforced with this year is experienced and possesses the technical capabilities needed. I think we will implement the necessary changes.
These words come as Honda is about to receive even more regulatory relief to raise its level. In fact, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem is pushing this issue, with leaders of other teams, such as Toto Wolff, Mercedes’ chief, backing him. Nobody wants to lose Honda.
So Watanabe has no choice but to apologize to Aston Martin and Fernando Alonso. The important thing now is for Honda to improve as soon as possible.
Images | Aston Martin, Honda
