Aston Martin has recently decided to tie up with Honda from the 2026 F1 season onwards, and in the process, they will part ways with Mercedes as an engine supplier. Despite this, the Mercedes higher-ups have decided to continue their alliance with the British brand.
The Silverstone-based team has been an engine customer of the Silver Arrows for a long time now. However, with Red Bull going to Ford’s way and Honda deciding to stay in the sport, Aston Martin decided to cut their engine ties with Toto Wolff’s team.
However, with Daimler Group losing a principal engine customer, there has been no impact on the business side as they still hold all the shares they have acquired in the Aston Martin Lagonda first in 2013 and then in 2020.
The Daimler Group purchased five percent of the British luxury brand in 2013 and purchased another 15 percent in 2020, making it a total of 20 percent, which is worth $354,000,000 now.
Aston Martin’s current relationship with Mercedes
Notably, the Aston Martin F1 team isn’t a subsidiary of the Aston Martin Lagonda and are distinct entities despite having the same owners. Hence, having shifted from Mercedes to Honda will not have any implication in business, believes Toto Wolff.
The Mercedes boss opened up on this in a report published by the German media outlet Motorsport Total. He said, “I don’t think that the change from a customer situation at Mercedes to Honda has anything to do with our power unit.”
📰: Aston Martin aims to become F1 champions by switching to Honda engines in 2026. Toto Wolff supports their move to be a factory team and believes it’s not about Mercedes’ performance. This switch gives Aston Martin more control over the power unit and aligns with their… pic.twitter.com/VHwWbTYmPG
— F1 Naija 🇳🇬 (@f1_naija) June 1, 2023
“We have a competitive power unit. But they always wanted to emancipate themselves and become a real works team. And that’s exactly what they’re doing now. Now they have their own exclusive contract,” concluded the Silver Arrows boss.
Aston Martin’s decision to shift from Mercedes and its implications
According to Aston Martin group CEO Martin Whitmarsh, the change from the existing engine provider to the Japanese manufacturers is not a criticism of Mercedes Power Units.
It is believed that the Silverstone-based team has decided to go for Honda after witnessing their surreal success with Red Bull in recent times and to be exclusive in the grid, which they can’t be with Mercedes.
Furthermore, there are multiple reports of owner Lawrence Stroll having to sell off $145 million worth of shares to Geely after the tie with Honda and they are also set to lose a $35 million annual boost in the process each year.
