Formula 1 fans think Fernando Alonso could have a ‘title-winning’ car after seeing Honda’s 2026 engine

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Honda have officially revealed their 2026 Formula 1 engine ahead of their new partnership with Aston Martin.

The Japanese manufacturer enjoyed incredible success with Red Bull, powering the cars that Max Verstappen used to win four consecutive drivers’ titles and three constructors’ championships.

As the 2026 F1 regulations come into effect, Red Bull will supply their own in-house engines. Honda will follow Adrian Newey from Milton Keynes to Aston Martin, as Lawrence Stroll hopes to build the team into a title contender.

Change my mind: Fernando Alonso is going to finish his F1 career without winning another race

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Damon Hill thinks Newey could pull off a ‘complete surprise’ with Aston Martin in 2026, as he is the ‘master’ of perfecting regulation changes. But a significant factor in the team’s performance will be Honda, and if their engine is up to scratch.

Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll will be hoping the AMR26 will be a competitive car, and fans have some optimism for the team ahead of pre-season testing.

Formula 1 fans think Fernando Alonso could have a ‘title-winning’ car with Honda’s 2026 engine

Many may be apprehensive about Honda’s partnership with Aston Martin. Honda know how demanding Alonso can be from his time at McLaren, where he referred to their engines as ’embarrassing’.

But the 2026 regulation changes could bring success to Aston Martin, and fans believe that could be possible after seeing Honda’s RA626H power unit after its reveal on Monday.

Many fans on Reddit are praying that the engine will put Aston Martin in contention for the title, as one wrote: “Please be great, please be great, please be great, please be great, please be great, please be great, please be great, please be great.”

Is this the engine that will lead Fernando Alonso to his third F1 title?

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Another poked fun at a past radio message from Alonso at McLaren, saying: “Engine feels good. Much faster than before. Amazing” please please please,” while one wrote: “Anything but Merc. I need that Lance Stroll vs LH for that real GOAT title battle.”

On X (formerly Twitter), fans talked up Aston Martin’s chances: “Wowww!!! That’s a title-winning engine if ever I’ve seen one,” said one user.

“Somewhere, Fernando Alonso is staring at this photo and having war flashbacks. He is praying to every racing god that this isn’t ‘GP2 Engine: Part Two’. The radio messages will be legendary,” predicted another fan.

Finally, one user thinks that Alonso and Stroll could be fighting at the front in 2026: “I thoroughly believe if the Aston is half decent we’re going to see Fernando in the fight for the title and potentially a few Stroll podiums.”

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

Honda have private concerns about their 2026 power unit

While fans are hopeful that Aston Martin can be a success with Honda in 2026, the Japanese manufacturer have raised some serious concerns.

Honda have rubbished claims that they will be superior this season, with president Koji Watanabe saying that they are ‘struggling’ in multiple areas of development.

There are ‘growing concerns’ about Honda’s performance heading into 2026. They may have ‘missed a trick’ with the engine loophole that Mercedes and Red Bull have found with the compression ratio, with the two teams generating more horsepower.

Off the record, Honda are worried they started development too late in 2026. Signs may not be as positive as some people think, but only time will tell if they can perform.