Red Bull and Honda have had a long-standing and successful relationship in F1, since joining forces in the 2019 season. With the Japanese manufacturers, Max Verstappen led Red Bull to championship victories in 2021 and 2022 and is once again the favorite to win both titles this season. However, recent reports point towards Honda leaving Verstappen and Red Bull for Fernando Alonso’s team, Aston Martin.
Over the winter break, Aston Martin has made huge strides and is among the fastest behind Red Bull at the moment. Their car is constantly developing, and many including Verstappen expects Alonso to guide them to a race win in 2023. However, that could prove to be extremely difficult because of the Red Bull’s pace.
Red Bull has a huge pace advantage, partly because of their RBPT-badge engine, which they use in collaboration with Honda. According to The Race, Honda could be looking to join Aston Martin and help them drive their success further, by supplying engines, when the freeze is over in 2026.
If Honda lives up to the performance it has shown over the last few years in F1, it would bolster Aston Martin’s chances of competing for the world championship. Alonso, who is showing no signs of slowing down, could very well love to get his hands on a car that can help him win his third world championship, even if it is in 2026!
Max Verstappen and how he brought Honda back to the top
Honda is one of the most famous names in F1, and as an engine manufacturer, they have supplied power units to legendary drivers like Ayrton Senna in the past. However, the turn of this century saw a major dip in performance, with went to an all-time low during their most recent McLaren spell, which interestingly enough, included Alonso.
After leaving McLaren for Red Bull in 2019, many doubted their ability to rise back to the top, but along with Red Bull and Max Verstappen, they did. Verstappen fought off Lewis Hamilton in the 2021 world championship to win his first crown, and coasted toward his second-consecutive win just a year later.
Currently, in the standings this year, Verstappen is 14 points clear of teammate Sergio Perez. It is almost certain that a Red Bull driver will win the championship again this year with the odds heavily in favor of the Dutchman. No other team has come close to threatening Red Bull for the top spot, yet.
Will Fernando Alonso remain in F1 in 2026?
Aston Martin could be looking to partner up with Honda in 2026 to take their ambitions to the next level. However, whether they will retain the services of Alonso or not, is questionable. The Spaniard is currently 41 years old, and him being on the grid three years later seems like an unfathomable thought.
Even though it is extremely unlikely that Alonso will be in F1 to drive Honda-powered cars again, the possibility cannot be ruled out. The Oviedo-born driver has shown no signs of slowing down, or indicate a retirement in the near future.
