Fernando Alonso says he’s desirous to work with Honda once more in 2026 after extending his deal to drive for Aston Martin.
The crew signed an influence unit provide cope with the producer final 12 months, starting when Formulation 1’s new energy unit rules arrive in two years’ time. Alonso’s new contract means he’ll drive the Aston Martin-Honda in 2026.
Alonso mentioned he spoke with Honda’s administration earlier than agreeing his new deal and is eager to work with them once more.
“I noticed them, not in Suzuka [last week], a couple of months in the past,” he mentioned in response to a query from RaceFans. “I’ve nice, nice love for Japan and for the issues that they do there.
“I feel the extent of self-discipline and the extent of dedication that they’ve is simply in one other stage usually in Japan. However it interprets to Honda. I labored with Toyota as nicely within the endurance championship and I’m very accustomed to that form of self-discipline.
“I feel 2026 we’re going into the unknown for certain when it comes to rules. But when I had to decide on one, my feeling that I’d select our venture and our engine and our energy unit. One, as a result of I feel they’re dominating the game, as I mentioned now, and so they have a really, very sturdy engine on Crimson Bull and AlphaTauri [RB]. And second, as a result of with the brand new fuels and the brand new rules, they are going to have all of the instruments out there to succeed.”
Alonso’s earlier expertise with Honda was not constructive and is commonly remembered for his criticism of their “GP2 engine” on his radio throughout the 2015 Japanese Grand Prix. He joined McLaren that 12 months, attracted by the prospect of utilizing Honda’s energy models once they final return to F1. Nevertheless they endured three uncompetitive seasons which ended when McLaren minimize brief their contract.
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Honda went on to get pleasure from success with Crimson Bull, energy Max Verstappen to the final three drivers’ championships. Alonso is hopeful they are often as aggressive once more in 2026.
“Honda is unquestionably a producer that has a lot success in Formulation 1, and never simply Formulation 1, on the planet of motorsport,” he mentioned. “It’s at all times an organization that I revered.
“It didn’t work for us at McLaren, within the years that they got here again to the game, however proper after that they mounted all the issues and they’re at the moment dominating the game. They’ve been world champions for the previous couple of years. So I feel they are going to have a baseline for 2026 that’s already very sturdy.
“Additionally they’ve the capability in Sakura of constructing one thing very nice. I visited Sakura in 2014, 2015, 2016. I haven’t visited but in the intervening time, however I do know that they’re actually, actually motivated there.”
Alonso expects Aston Martin will even be in a robust place when F1 introduces its new sustainable fuels in 2026. “That is one thing that additionally I’ll like to experiment with, as I mentioned earlier than, with Aramco, a fantastic associate,” he mentioned.
“So I see a win-win scenario. I respect the Japanese tradition as as you all know. We simply got here from Japan, a particular race – at all times I’ve a particular helmet after we race in Japan. Samurai tattoo on my again, so there are plenty of hyperlinks at all times with Japan.
“This 2026, it’s interesting and hopefully after the expertise with McLaren-Honda and the IndyCar as nicely, we’ve now this chance to work once more collectively. That for me is a true pleasure.”
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