Could Stroll's Aston Martin F1 team abandon its relationship with Mercedes and take on Honda engines from 2026? While the idea may sound far-fetched, it shouldn't completely be ruled out. Here's why an Aston-Honda partnership could become a reality:
It’s logical that all three are currently looking at what the possible choices are for 2026 and beyond.
So what then of Aston Martin? Obviously the sportscar manufacturer has strong corporate links to Mercedes, and on the face of it a switch to Honda would appear to make no commercial sense. A further step would be to use fewer Mercedes-sourced parts, which in essence means rear suspension and transmission. As it ramps up for the Audi partnership, Sauber has switched back to making its own gearbox rather than using Ferrari’s, and Aston can follow a similar route.Back in December, Aston technical director Dan Fallows stressed that there are no plans in place at the moment to reduce the reliance on Mercedes, but he left the door open for future changes.
The key consideration is that once you have your own in-house gearbox capability, switching PU suppliers becomes much easier, as you are no longer relying on a package deal. It also gives you total freedom in terms of the car design and concept. In theory, Stroll could use any chassis name he wants in 2026 if it ensures that he can have an exclusive deal with the maker of what is currently the most successful PU on the grid. If that means abandoning the Aston identity, so be it.
Aston in contrast has already proved that it has made real progress, and with the move to the new factory – and more time for the revamped technical crew to gel under the leadership of Fallows – it’s logical to assume that there is even greater potential to be tapped in future years. Remaining a Mercedes customer was not a long-term option, and not just because Ron Dennis had fallen out with then Stuttgart boss Dieter Zetsche.
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