Former Formula 1 driver Johnny Herbert has stated that Aston Martin’s 2026 season performance hinges on Honda’s power unit development. Herbert’s comments follow a challenging start to the current season for the Aston Martin Aramco Honda Team.
The partnership between Aston Martin and Honda has faced significant hurdles since the beginning of the 2026 Formula 1 season. The Honda RA626H power unit has exhibited issues with reliability, power output, and excessive vibrations.
These power unit problems have impacted drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, with unreliability leading to retirements in early rounds. The vibration issues also raised concerns about potential nerve damage for the drivers.
Adrian Newey, who joined Aston Martin as Managing Technical Partner in 2025, is focused on the development of the AMR26 chassis. Despite Newey’s involvement, Herbert believes the core issues lie with the power unit.
‘Adrian [Newey] can’t turn it around; it’s not really in his hands,’ Herbert said. ‘It is not really anything to do with the chassis. The chassis seems to be okay. It’s more down to the combustion engine side of it.’
Herbert further suggested that Honda’s 2026 F1 project may be affected by inexperienced staff, noting a turnover in their workforce. He indicated that the synergy required for the new combustion engine regulations appears to be lacking.
Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) President Koji Watanabe previously acknowledged difficulties in developing their 2026 power unit. The new regulations for 2026 mandate a significant increase in electrical energy output and the use of 100% sustainable fuels.
Despite the initial struggles, Newey has indicated that the challenging start to the season has fostered a closer working relationship between Aston Martin and Honda. He expressed satisfaction with the progress made from a relationship standpoint.
Meanwhile, Red Bull Racing is navigating its own power unit development for 2026 with Red Bull Ford Powertrains. This project represents a substantial undertaking for the team, which is building its own power unit for the first time.
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has anticipated initial struggles for the Red Bull Ford Powertrains project, expecting ‘headaches and sleepless nights’ in the early months of the 2026 season.
Herbert has also commented on Max Verstappen’s future, linking his long-term commitment to Red Bull with the competitiveness of their 2026 power unit. Verstappen’s current contract includes a performance clause.
