Honda and the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team have officially pulled the covers off the AMR26, their first fully integrated F1 challenger built for the sweeping new 2026 regulations, and it marks the beginning of a bold new chapter for both partners. Revealed ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 8, the AMR26 pairs an all‑new chassis with Honda’s latest power unit, the RA626H, designed to meet the sport’s next-generation hybrid ruleset.
This is also the first Aston Martin Formula One car shaped under the leadership of Adrian Newey, now serving as Managing Technical Partner and Team Principal, a monumental development for the Silverstone-based outfit. Newey highlighted the rare challenge of simultaneous chassis and power unit regulation changes, noting that 2026 offers a clean slate unlike any season in recent memory. He emphasised the AMR26’s holistic approach, focusing on strong fundamentals and long-term development potential, ensuring both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll can extract consistent performance on track.
Honda Racing Corporation President Koji Watanabe echoed the excitement, confirming that Honda has been deep in development on the RA626H power unit, built exclusively for the AMR26 project. He described the collaboration with AMAF1 as one united team, ready to take on what he calls one of motorsport’s most demanding but thrilling challenges.
Pre-season testing kicks off in Bahrain across two sessions (February 11–13 and 18–20) giving the new machine its first real-world trial before the global championship begins. With 24 races spanning Australia, Japan, Monaco, the United States, Abu Dhabi, and more, the AMR26 will face one of the most intense calendars in Formula One history.
Aston Martin retains its 2025 driver pairing: two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, now 44, and Canadian driver Lance Stroll, 27. Alonso finished 10th in the 2025 standings, while Stroll secured 16th, both aiming to climb higher with the promise of a clean-sheet 2026 car beneath them.
With Newey’s design philosophy, Honda’s fresh hybrid engineering, and a full factory partnership finally in motion, the AMR26 is braced to be the dawn of an entirely new era for Aston Martin and Honda in Formula One.
