Honda wants to give Fernando Alonso the opportunity to fight for a third Formula 1 world title, even as the Spaniard continues to assess whether he wants to remain in the championship beyond the current season. A decision over his future is expected after the summer break, with the characteristics of Formula 1’s new regulations playing a significant role in his thinking.
Fernando Alonso has not won the Drivers’ Championship since securing his second consecutive crown in 2006. Honda, however, remains determined to provide the two-time world champion with the performance he needs to pursue another title, while his technical experience continues to play an important role in the development of the project.
Fernando Alonso says F1 regulations will shape his future
Fernando Alonso has made clear that his decision will not simply depend on the performance of the car during the current season. The Spaniard is also considering whether he enjoys the type of racing produced by the new generation of Formula 1 machinery.
“It’s not a question of this year’s performance, but more about the regulations,” Fernando Alonso explained, underlining how the new rules are influencing his view of the future.
“Driving these cars at circuits like Spa or Silverstone is not exactly what I dream of for my future. We’ll see.”
The uncertainty surrounding his next move has become increasingly important as the season progresses. Fernando Alonso has already explained in greater detail what will determine his Formula 1 future beyond 2026, with the regulations rather than short-term results emerging as a central factor.
Honda targets a third F1 world title with Fernando Alonso
Honda nevertheless remains fully committed to extracting as much performance as possible from its partnership with Fernando Alonso. Shintaro Orihara, Honda’s Trackside General Manager and Chief Engineer, highlighted how valuable the Spaniard’s technical feedback is to the Japanese manufacturer.
“His feedback is always fundamental. He has 20 years of experience. If Fernando says, ‘We need this deployment before a corner,’ then we have to respect his opinion.”
Energy deployment and driveability have become particularly important under Formula 1’s new power-unit regulations, areas in which Honda continues to work closely with its drivers. Further development is also planned as the championship resumes, with Honda preparing further Aston Martin power-unit improvements for the next phase of the season.
Honda wants to give Alonso what he needs
Shintaro Orihara made clear that allowing Fernando Alonso to challenge for the championship remains one of Honda’s ambitions.
“That is definitely our target. We are working closely together and we know he is a great driver. He has great passion and he trusts Honda. We want to give him what he asks for: that is absolutely our target.”
The partnership has already started to show signs of progress, with the revised Aston Martin package delivering encouraging developments before the summer break. The AMR26 B-spec helped Fernando Alonso reach Q2, providing another indication that the project is beginning to move forward.
Whether Fernando Alonso chooses to continue his Formula 1 career will ultimately depend on his own assessment of the championship and its regulations. Honda’s position, however, is clear: as long as the Spaniard remains behind the wheel, the ambition is to give him everything possible to pursue the third world championship that has eluded him since 2006.
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