The last few days have been thick with rumors at Aston Martin. Lawrence Stroll, the owner of the brand and the Formula 1 team, travelled to Japan to meet with Honda people. Immediately, the chatter pointed to the aim of breaking the deal between Aston Martin and Honda. Adrian Newey denies it.
According to Aston Martin’s technical chief, the meeting between the leadership of Fernando Alonso’s team and Honda’s executives was purely routine and scheduled. And the proof he offers is that he attended, even if only remotely. Newey confirms the date up to which Aston Martin will remain with Honda.
Newey confirms they will stay with Honda at least until 2028
The meeting between Aston Martin and Honda in Japan was not about discussing a break of the engine-supply contract. Adrian Newey has denied the rumor that circulated around the Formula 1 paddock in recent days. According to Newey, Stroll’s trip was solely due to routine reasons and had already been planned.
Newey states that “it was a scheduled meeting between Honda and Aston Martin. It is something that takes place two or three times a month, and that way we can verify what is being worked on”. The problem is that this time it wasn’t a simple online meeting, but Stroll himself stepped foot in Japan to chat face to face.
In fact, Newey confirms that “I was there, I joined online, so I know what happened“. However, what Newey couldn’t access was what happened when the camera was turned off and Stroll was left alone with the Japanese. In any case, the Aston Martin guru insists that breaking with Honda is not in his plans for now.
Newey sets 2028 as the date up to which he can assure that the link between Aston Martin and Honda will continue. That very year is when the contract that binds them ends. Newey is fully aware of past ventures and how difficult it would be to find a supplier willing to give engines identical to the official ones.
Moreover, the relationship between Newey and Honda is very good, since they worked and won together at Red Bull. Honda joined the Red Bull team in 2019 also in a precarious situation, but in 2021 they started a run of four consecutive driver championships, up to 2024. Newey acknowledges that “Honda is now behind compared to 2019”.
Aston Martin needs Honda to improve urgently so that all the promises of the 2027 car do not end up coming to nothing.
Images | Aston Martin
