Aston Martin has seen tremendous progress as a team in F1 since the start of the 2023 season. While they are focusing on immediate success, the Silverstone-based outfit is also keeping an eye out for the future. In fact, they are aiming to compete for the championship in the coming years, with Aston Martin CEO Martin Whitmarsh playing a key role in getting Honda to sign up with them starting the 2026 season.
A lot of the spotlight among F1 teams in 2023 has been on Aston Martin so far. Behind the scenes, there are major developments with new partnerships forming, and old relationships crumbling. Their relationship with Mercedes-Benz in particular has become incredibly fragile since the deal with Honda went through.
AMF1 Team has today announced it is entering into a works partnership with Honda from 2026.
The Japanese manufacturer will supply power units to the team from the 2026 season.
Find out more below.
— Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) May 24, 2023
Even though Aston Martin’s F1 team is differently owned from the car company, they have many things in common. The road car company, whose executive chairman is Lawrence Stroll, pays an annual sum of $30,000,000 to the F1 outfit. They are also heavily reliant on the Mercedes-Benz Group for providing them with power units, but Whitmarsh may have upset the German hierarchy after his recent dealings with Honda.
Martin Whitmarsh saw no reason to inform Mercedes of Honda deal
According to Business F1, Martin Whitmarsh is the main reason behind Aston Martin’s deteriorating relationship with Mercedes. Lawrence Stroll’s company has very close ties to Mercedes, and the latter even owns a 9.7% share in their road-car company.
However, Whitmarsh decided to go ahead with Honda’s partnership without even talking to the Mercedes-Benz bosses. This is mainly because the Brit didn’t feel ‘obligated’ to consult anyone from the Silver Arrows. He insisted that Aston Martin Lagonda is a public company, and their current partnership with Mercedes where they receive power units for their road-cars will continue. On the other hand, Whitmarsh feels that matters related to their F1 operations don’t concern them whatsoever.
On top of that, Whitmarsh decided to make the announcement regarding Honda’s arrival way earlier than the Mercedes Group would have liked. The Japanese company is set to supply engines to them starting 2026 onwards, but Whitmarsh chose to make it official two and a half years in advance. This upset the group immensely.
Lawrence Stroll and Aston Martin falling out with Mercedes?
Despite the problems between Mercedes-Benz and Aston Martin in F1 involving Whitmarsh, they need to maintain a cordial relationship off the track. This is because even Aston Martin’s road-cars have many engines that are manufactured by Mercedes.
Lawrence Stroll, who is the executive chairman of Aston Martin, will be looking to sort out the mess that Whitmarsh’s hasty move created. The Mercedes-Benz group, however, which is currently working with Stroll and Whitmarsh, would have preferred a heads-up before Whitmarsh decided to bring about such a significant change to proceedings.
Martin Whitmarsh: “I was already here 10 years ago when we signed the deal at McLaren. That didn’t work out well.
But today we can say that Honda has won the 2021 title, last year’s title and they will win this year as well , unless we beat them”
How unless we beat them?
— Aston Martin F1 updates (@startonpole) May 24, 2023
Honda, meanwhile, seem excited about working with Aston Martin from 2026 onwards. Nothing concrete about how the structure will look like has been revealed till now. However, changes in the driver lineup are sure to occur. Honda made it very clear that they don’t want Fernando Alonso driving for them when they officially arrive.
