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Aston Martin Fires Up 2026 Car With Honda Power Unit at Silverstone

The first fire‑up confirms real progress on a full works integration before F1’s 2026 hybrid reset.

Overview

  • The team released a December 31 clip from its Silverstone base showing the AMR26’s Honda power unit firing for the first time with Honda engineers present.
  • Astonn Martin and Honda are moving from customer supply to a works-style program that aligns chassis and power-unit development for the 2026 regulations.
  • The AMR26 is being led by Adrian Newey, who has been named team principal, reuniting with Honda as he oversees the 2026 chassis project.
  • Fernando Alonso said the regulation reset, the completed facilities including a new wind tunnel, and the Honda partnership give the team reasons for optimism.
  • Aston Martin plans to unveil the car on February 9, with Honda’s separate power-unit reveal scheduled for January 20, as the sport shifts to higher electrical deployment and 100% sustainable fuels; outside speculation suggests Aramco’s fuel R&D could prove influential but remains unproven.