Aston Martin won’t place same timing restrictions on Honda that ruined previous McLaren relationship

Follow us on Google Discover

Aston Martin are hoping that the issues they’re experiencing in their first season working with Honda won’t spiral into the same disappointing spell that the Japanese manufacturer endured at McLaren.

Honda are the power unit manufacturer with by far the most work to do before the start of the 2026 Formula 1 season.

Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll couldn’t set a single timed lap on the final day of testing due to a shortage of parts, with Honda primarily responsible.

Is Fernando Alonso cursed?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

Multiple issues with Honda’s batteries, as well as Fernando Alonso breaking down on track and Stroll ending up in the gravel, epitomised just how badly things are going for Adrian Newey’s team.

Jolyon Palmer compared Alonso’s breakdown to his time at McLaren, when he suffered through three seasons of mediocrity due to an unpowered Honda engine.

However, Aston Martin believe they know how to avoid the same issues with Honda that saw their relationship with McLaren break down.

READ MORE: All to know about Aston Martin F1 Team from team principal to lineage

Aston Martin won’t put same ‘timing requirements’ on Honda that caused McLaren clashes

A report from the Spanish outlet MARCA has shared more details about what went wrong between Honda and McLaren and how that compares to their current relationship with Aston Martin.

Alonso left Ferrari for McLaren after coming extremely close to adding to his two drivers’ championships with the Scuderia, only to be denied by Sebastian Vettel.

Unfortunately, McLaren’s cars were never competitive enough to even challenge for podiums while working with Honda, let alone race wins.

Alonso eventually abandoned Formula 1 to try his hand at the Indy 500, the Dakar Rally and 24 Hours of Le Mans before returning with Alpine in 2021.

He would have been praying for Honda not to repeat their struggles this year with Aston Martin, but unfortunately, he’s not been able to escape that fate.

Finish the sentence: In 2027, the Aston Martin driver line-up will be…

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

However, MARCA reports that Aston Martin are in a completely different situation to McLaren, including having better facilities and sharing a similar mentality.

It’s believed that McLaren ‘imposed dimensions and timing requirements on Honda that clashed head-on with the Japanese mindset,’ something that Aston Martin aren’t keen on repeating.

Aston Martin’s willingness to travel to Japan to help Honda, with Andy Cowell leading the charge, is making a big difference.

It appears as though Newey is willing to be patient at this stage, but how that will last if Alonso and Stroll are at the back of the grid when the season begins is another matter.

READ MORE: All you need to know about McLaren F1 Team from team principal to engine

Could Jenson Button be the key to a harmonious Aston Martin and Honda partnership?

Alonso’s teammate at the start of Honda’s second spell supplying McLaren with power units was Jenson Button.

The 2009 champion had beaten Lewis Hamilton in a head-to-head battle earlier in his time with the team and was relishing another skirmish with a world-class driver.

What actually unfolded was two top drivers stuck in the midfield, scrambling for a point or two every weekend.

Button walked away from F1 a year before Alonso, and still has a penalty to serve after replacing the Spaniard for a one-off race in Monaco in 2017.

However, Button has just joined Aston Martin as an ambassador, and his strong relationship with Honda should help keep both parties on the same page.

He said in the team’s official press release: “Joining Aston Martin Aramco during such a transformative time in the team and the sport’s history is really exciting for me.

“Honda’s new works partnership with the team was a huge draw, and I look forward to bringing my years of experience working with them to my new role as ambassador.

“The 2026 season is going to be fascinating, and being part of such an ambitious team is a real opportunity. I can’t wait for Melbourne!”

That positive attitude might have seeped away already based on pre-season testing, but at least Aston Martin hope to avoid the same mistakes McLaren made in trying to fix the situation.