Honda Motor Co. unveiled a new power unit for Formula One on January 21, ahead of its return to the sport. The unit, including a new engine, will be supplied to the UK's Aston Martin team to meet updated carbon dioxide emission rules. President Toshihiro Mibe emphasized linking racing technology to automotive development.
Honda Motor Co. unveiled its new power unit, including a new engine, for the Formula One championship on Tuesday, January 21, 2026, in Tokyo. This marks the company's fifth participation in the sport, with the unit set to power the UK's Aston Martin team under new carbon dioxide emission regulations.
The power unit adheres to updated rules where electric motors contribute about 50% of a car's drivetrain output, matched by the engine, alongside mandatory use of low-CO2 synthetic fuels. Honda aims to apply racing-honed technology to its automotive business. At the press conference, President Toshihiro Mibe stated emphatically, “Formula One is a motor sport that challenges both manufacturing technology and decarbonization. We’ll connect them with our four-wheel vehicle business.” The company also revealed a new vehicle equipped with the drivetrain.
Aston Martin Executive Chairman Lawrence Stroll, speaking at the partnership launch event, described the collaboration as a 'development journey' amid F1's largest technical overhaul in decades. He expressed high hopes for the power unit but cautioned, "We're all sitting here anxiously waiting to get on track and I really don't think we'll have the answer to that question before we get to Melbourne," referring to the 2026 season opener.
Honda first entered F1 in 1964, with multiple withdrawals and returns; the latest comeback was announced in 2023. Among Japanese firms, Toyota maintains a technical partnership with the US-based Haas F1 team. F1's global popularity has surged, with 6.7 million spectators in 2025—1.6 times the 2019 figure—and the Japanese Grand Prix drawing its largest crowd since 2009.
