Honda explains why it returned to F1 as it unveiled its 2026 power unit

F1 Grand Prix, GP Mexico, Autódromo Hermanos Rodriguez

Honda has officially unveiled its all‑new RA626H Formula One power unit, the hybrid system that will power the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team from 2026 under a full works partnership. The launch event in Tokyo marked Honda’s return as a complete PU manufacturer and showcased the company’s technological ambitions for the next era of Formula One.

Global CEO Toshihiro Mibe positioned the new power unit as a symbol of Honda’s engineering philosophy and its commitment to tackling the sport’s most demanding challenges.

“Honda participation in F1 has always been the embodiment of Soichiro Honda’s spirit,” Mibe said. “He inspired our engineers to commit to becoming No.1 in the world and to take on the most difficult challenges.”

The RA626H has been developed by Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) to meet the sweeping 2026 regulations, which dramatically increase electrical power output and mandate the use of advanced sustainable fuels. Mibe described the shift as transformative not only for the sport but for Honda’s broader technological direction.

“In 2026, F1 will undergo a major change in regulations for both the chassis and PU,” he said. “The electrical power output will be increased to roughly three times its current level, and sustainable fuel will be required for the engine. F1 is evolving into a next‑generation motorsport that takes on the challenges of both electrification and decarbonization.”

The RA626H combines a high‑efficiency internal combustion engine with a significantly more powerful hybrid system, reflecting Honda’s long‑term strategy for electrified mobility. Mibe emphasized that the new cost‑cap environment has also shaped development. “The cost cap requires each PU manufacturer to pursue development efficiency to achieve maximum results within limited resources,” he noted.

Alongside the power unit, Honda introduced a new H mark, a redesigned emblem that will appear on the Aston Martin F1 car and across Honda’s global motorsport programs. The refreshed logo symbolizes the transformation of Honda’s automobile business and its renewed commitment to performance engineering.

“This new H mark represents the evolution of Honda,” Mibe said. “It will be used for F1 machines as well as Honda machines in various other motorsports.”

Honda also confirmed plans to bring motorsport‑inspired technology to the road through HRC‑spec production models, including a future model based on the Civic Type R HRC Concept. “We want to offer customers the joy of driving and share Honda’s passion for taking on challenges,” Mibe added.

Mibe highlighted the broader impact of F1 technology on Honda’s mobility portfolio. High‑efficiency combustion, thermal management, high‑speed electric motors, and sustainable fuel research developed for F1 are already influencing next‑generation hybrid and electric vehicles.

These technologies are also being applied to Honda’s aviation and advanced mobility projects. “Expertise on sustainable fuels has already been applied to sustainable aviation fuels and fuels to power eVTOLs,” Mibe said. “Technologies for high‑speed rotating components, such as turbos and motors, have been leveraged reciprocally for aircraft engines and F1 PUs.”

He described this as a “circular synergy” that accelerates innovation across land, sea, air, and even outer space.

With Formula One’s global fanbase reaching 827 million in 2025, Mibe emphasized the importance of competing at the front. “Honda wants to share the joy of winning with the fans who have supported us over the years, as well as new generations of F1 and Honda fans,” he said.

The partnership with Aston Martin, he stressed, is built on a shared ambition. “Striving to become No.1 in the world, Honda will continue to take on challenges together with the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team.”