Honda chief rubbishes claims about their 2026 Formula 1 engine, ‘we’re struggling in many areas’

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Honda president Koji Watanabe has rubbished claims that their 2026 F1 engine is superior to the rest of the engine suppliers, revealing that ‘not everything is going well’ for them.

The 2026 regulations mark a brand new era for Aston Martin. In addition to the regulatory overhaul that every team on the grid has been working towards, the Silverstone-based team is housing Honda power units for the very first time.

While it’s the first time that Aston Martin are utilising Japanese power, Fernando Alonso is no stranger to a Honda engine.

The Spaniard drove Honda-powered machinery during his second stint with McLaren, and he wasn’t at all happy with its performance.

Alonso embarrassed Honda at their home Grand Prix in 2015, sharing his ire with Honda’s engine by comparing it to a Formula 2 power unit.

The two-time world champion has also made it clear that he wants to start competing at the front again, with one eye already on a final retirement from the sport at the end of 2026.

• READ MORE: Honda president shares his stance on bringing Max Verstappen from Red Bull to Aston Martin

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Honda president Koji Watanabe says they are ‘struggling in many areas’ of their 2026 F1 engine development

Aston Martin were understood to have the upper hand over their on-grid rivals after it had emerged that the FIA gave them a head start on the new engine formula after commissioning their fuel supplier, Aramco, for the initial benchmark tests of the 100% sustainable fuels that will be in use this season.

However, in an interview with Sportiva, the chief of Honda HRC’s engine development project has rubbished claims that they will be superior.

Koji Watanabe told the Japanese sports publication, “There are conflicting reports, with some saying that only Mercedes-AMG is doing well, others that it’s just Mercedes-AMG and Honda, and others that other manufacturers are struggling.

“To be honest, not everything is going well, so we are struggling in many areas, but nothing fatal has happened that we can’t do anything about.

“In the midst of all this, we are quietly concentrating on improving performance and reliability.

“As Aston Martin wants to continue to create cars that incorporate Adrian [Newey]’s vision, the next step will be to figure out how to adapt the power unit to that.

“If that helps us increase our competitiveness and win, then we’re willing to do it.”

• READ MORE: Fernando Alonso should already know what to expect from Honda at F1 testing after 2015 disaster

Honda had a highly successful partnership with Adrian Newey during their respective ties to Red Bull

Following their unsuccessful stint with McLaren in the mid-2010s, Honda forged a new alliance with Red Bull in 2019. It began one of the most dominant periods in the Austrian constructor’s history.

Another instrumental cog in their world championship-winning machine was Adrian Newey, the mastermind behind Red Bull’s success during the ground effect era.

Newey is stepping into the team principal role at Aston Martin this year for the first time in his career, but his influence on the aerodynamic developments side of things cannot be understated, seeing as he joined the squad towards the beginning of 2025.

The reunification of arguably the two biggest components of Red Bull’s success in recent years certainly bodes well for the future of the British constructor, even if Honda’s president seems to think otherwise in the early stages of their collaboration.