With a challenging start to the 2026 Formula 1 season, Aston Martin’s motorsport department wants to reassure fans and the media by stating that there are no conflicts with their engine supplier, Honda. Mike Krack, team principal, has assured that “there is no problem” in the collaboration between the two parties.
Aston Martin has changed from a Mercedes engine supply to an official partnership with Honda, aiming to establish itself as a competitive team. However, the new AMR26 car has had a tough start, with performance and reliability issues, which have caused vibrations in the Honda engine that have affected battery performance and raised concerns about the health of the drivers.
During the race in Suzuka, the president of Honda Racing Corporation, Koji Watanabe, and the team owner, Lawrence Stroll, were seen greeting each other on the grid. Krack was asked if they had reached any kind of “peace” with Honda, to which he responded with a smile that it was not necessary, as they maintain a good relationship.
Regarding this, Krack commented: “We have great respect for Honda and acknowledge the work being done to resolve the issues we have experienced. We have come here knowing it was our partner’s home race.”
The Japanese Grand Prix race marked an improvement for the team, which finished an official race for the first time with Fernando Alonso, who qualified in 18th position. Krack stated that, while it cannot be celebrated as a triumph, positive aspects can be drawn from these early races.
“We must seize this moment to continue improving. We have overcome our reliability issues, but now we must focus on performance. There is a lot to be done,” he added.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
