ANALYSIS: How and why Honda and Aston Martin got together for 2026

Honda putting pen to paper to become Aston Martin’s works engine partner from 2026 completes a remarkable U-turn for the Japanese manufacturer, who just a few years ago decided to quit Formula 1 and divert resources elsewhere. So, what has sparked Honda’s change of heart, and why have Aston Martin ended a long-standing relationship with Mercedes to jump ship?

Why did Honda choose to return now?

To understand why Honda are back, we must go back to the summer of 2020, when Honda began evaluating their place in F1 before announcing their exit a few months later. At the time, the world – both internally and externally – looked very different.