Fernando Alonso has reiterated his faith in Honda despite an unexpectedly difficult 2026 Formula 1 season for Aston Martin, insisting that the Japanese manufacturer deserves another opportunity to show what it can achieve in 2027.
The partnership between Aston Martin and Honda did not begin as hoped. Severe vibrations during the opening races, drivability problems and turbo lag have all restricted the performance of the power unit during the season. Honda has nevertheless continued working to recover ground, with signs of engine progress becoming evident during the 2026 campaign.
Looking towards the regulatory changes expected over the coming years, however, Fernando Alonso believes the full potential of the partnership has yet to emerge. With the balance between the internal-combustion engine and electrical energy set to evolve, the Aston Martin driver believes there are still reasons to expect a more competitive Honda package.
Fernando Alonso’s motivation remains intact
Despite his age and an exceptionally long Formula 1 career, Fernando Alonso feels he still has the same desire to compete that has driven him throughout his time in the championship. The Spaniard admitted that he struggles to imagine himself away from the paddock while he still believes he can make a difference behind the wheel.
“I have no guarantees that 2027 will be more fun, but it is a commitment that you have to make with yourself and, at the end of the day, I feel fast, I feel motivated, I feel that I am enjoying what I am doing.
“And if I am sitting at home watching TV, watching the races, I will feel that I can do better than them, you know. That is what I felt when I was away from F1. I watched the races and thought, ‘Wow, that wasn’t right.’
“I have always felt that fire inside me to be there and try to do better, and I still feel it now.”
That competitive instinct has played a major role in Fernando Alonso’s decision to continue, even after a season in which Aston Martin and Honda have faced significant performance challenges. Earlier in the year, the scale of the task became clear as the team worked to address the weaknesses of its package and Honda pursued opportunities to accelerate its recovery.
Why Fernando Alonso still trusts Honda for 2027
Fernando Alonso then turned specifically to Honda, stressing that the difficulties encountered during the first season of the new regulatory cycle should not be treated as a definitive judgement on the Japanese manufacturer. The Aston Martin driver believes another year could provide a better indication of what the partnership is capable of achieving.
“As long as I have it inside me, I don’t think it is the time to stop. So yes, the decision was more about the rules and how enjoyable it is to drive these cars with these rules. I decided that maybe next year, with the 60-40 and with the second year of the rules, maybe there is a slightly better compromise on that, so let’s do it one more time.
“Let’s give Honda another opportunity, especially on the power unit side. We started on the wrong foot, and it is a question mark what will happen next year. But I think they deserve another opportunity. I feel fast.”
Fernando Alonso’s comments underline his continuing confidence in the Aston Martin-Honda project despite the difficulties encountered this season. Honda’s performance has remained one of the major areas of attention during 2026, with the manufacturer working to reduce the gap after the early power unit deficit complicated Aston Martin’s campaign.
For Fernando Alonso, the true potential of the collaboration therefore remains to be established. The 2027 season will provide another opportunity to determine whether Aston Martin and Honda can finally translate their ambitions into the level of competitiveness they have been targeting.
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