Honda say Aston Martin must sign drivers “we need to win”.
Honda wants Aston Martin to select the best possible driver combination for the 2026 season.
April 14, 2024
Jaden Diaz-Ndisang
Last Word On Sports

Koji Watanabe, president of Honda Racing Corporation, emphasised that driver quality is the priority. Watanabe also explained there have been (and will be in the future) extensive conversations with Aston Martin about driver selection for 2026:

“We had many conversations with Aston Martin regarding our partnership starting from 2026,” he told motorsport.com. “During that time, we exchanged opinions about drivers too, and we shared an understanding between us and Aston Martin – that Alonso was definitely a top-class driver.”

“Aston Martin asked us if there would be any problems from Honda if they extended Alonso’s contract. The situation was shared at various stages. But Honda did not make any requests regarding this matter. In any case, we should naturally discuss what kind of driver line-up we need to win.”

“We need to win”;

https://lastwordonsports.com/motorsp...e-need-to-win/


Aston Martin can dream of bold Max Verstappen move after Honda chief’s emotional plea
Honda has underpinned Max Verstappen's success in F1, helping the Red Bull star to three Drivers' Championship titles.
06:01, Sun, Apr 14, 2024
By Harry Smith
Daily and Sunday Express

Aston Martin can dream of bringing Max Verstappen to their team after the 2026 technical regulation changes following emotional comments from Honda president Koji Watanabe. The Japanese engine manufacturers have contributed to the Dutchman’s F1 success to date but will soon be switching from Red Bull to the Silverstone-based outfit.

Discussing their relationship with Verstappen, Watanabe told Motorsport.com: "I don’t think that day will come within a very short period of time, but if both continue their Formula One activities in the future then we hope that we can work together again one day.

‘Bold Max Verstappen move’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...n-Martin-Honda


Honda opens new UK base ahead of its corporation with Aston Martin
Mar 2024, 21:00
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

Honda has announced that it has established a new Formula One base in the UK as it gears up its preparation for the switch from Red Bull to Aston Martin.

Honda have now confirmed that they will establish a new UK base:"This new company has been founded to primarily perform post-race maintenance and preparation tasks on the Honda built F1 power units (PUs), whilst also operating as a logistics operation for the European region. The establishment of HRC UK will further enhance the effectiveness of Honda’s PU operations, in support of the partnership with Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team."

Following the establishment of the new company in the UK, HRC will start the recruitment of engineers, technicians and staff members for the new company from Spring 2024.

‘New UK base’;

https://www.f1technical.net/news/24466


Aston Martin insider shuts down notion Lance Stroll could quit F1
Suggestions that Lance Stroll could quit F1 have been rubbished by an insider from Aston Martin.
15 Apr 2024
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

Aston Martin ambassador Pedro de la Rosa insists there is no reason that Lance Stroll would quit F1. Speaking on the latest episode of the F1 Nation podcast, Damon Hill indicated that he felt Carlos Sainz could still end up at Aston Martin, despite Alonso’s recent contract renewal.

“The idea that Carlos would displace Fernando, I’m not sure if he’s got the nerve to do that,” the 1996 F1 world champion joked. “But anyway, I think that Pedro is the person to correct me on this one, but maybe Lance, if he decides to go and play tennis or something, two Spanish drivers would be a very strong team at Aston Martin.”

Hill was indeed corrected by de la Rosa, who argued: “Why should Lance not continue, Damon? I mean, there’s every reason to continue in the team with all the projects, and that’s the reason why Fernando decided to stay. So he’s had two incredible races in Jeddah and Australia where there was some parts of the race that he was faster than Fernando. He finished behind him. Well, in fact, in Australia, in front of him. So, I mean, come on.”

‘Rubbished by an insider from Aston Martin’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/104690...-could-quit-f1


Ex-F1 driver leaps to defence of Lance Stroll as Aston Martin exit rumours swirl
13 Apr 2024 12:00 PM
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

Pedro de la Rosa stressed that Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll is the best Aston Martin driver line-up possible, as 1996 World Champion Damon Hill gave fresh momentum to the Carlos Sainz in, Stroll out speculation.

If they are to make that progress, further doubts have arisen over Stroll’s suitability for the task, ex-F1 driver Christian Danner and BBC F1 commentator Harry Benjamin among those sounding the alarm bells, while Hill now has advocated that an Alonso and Sainz pairing would be “very strong” for Aston Martin.

De la Rosa, who now serves as an Aston Martin ambassador, indeed chose to correct Hill, as he stressed that there is no reason why Stroll would want to quit F1, nor grounds to remove him from the team which is owned by his father Lawrence Stroll.

‘Leaps to defence of Lance Stroll’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/pedro-...-martin-future


Aston Martin expected to extend Lance Stroll contract
April 15, 2024
Jaden Diaz-Ndisang
Last Word On Sports

When considering the volume of talented drivers available, Aston Martin could make a statement ahead of 2026. Carlos Sainz and Yuki Tsunoda are among the drivers who the Silverstone-based team could sign. As a three-time race winner, Sainz has proven to be within touching distance of the exceptionally talented Charles Leclerc in recent seasons. Undoubtedly, he could improve Aston’s results and simultaneously raise the team’s profile. In a similar vein, Tsunoda’s arrival would make sense from a long-term standpoint. Not only is the 23-year-old performing at a very high level, but his presence in a Honda-powered team would certainly be a commercial boost.

Aston Martin still committed to Stroll. Despite this potent new variable, the Silverstone-based team’s commitment to Lance Stroll seems unwavering. According to a report from RACER, Mike Krack’s team have cited the Canadian’s “technical feedback” as extremely valuable. This quality – which is obviously impossible to measure from the outside – emphasises that Aston has no shortage of reasons at the ready to justify Stroll’s presence in the team.

‘Lance Stroll contract’;

https://lastwordonsports.com/motorsp...roll-contract/


‘Can Lance Stroll do that?’ – Ex-F1 driver questions Stroll’s contribution to Aston Martin
12 Apr 2024 1:30 PM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Showing “little” in the way of development, former F1 driver Christian Danner has questioned whether Lance Stroll is the right team-mate for Fernando Alonso going forward. The team made no mention of his team-mate but Stroll is expected, unless he makes the call to quit, to continue in 2025 given his father Lawrence owns the team.

Danner doesn’t believe that is the right move for the team who last season finished fifth in the Constructors’ Championship but would’ve been fourth had Stroll scored even half Alonso’s points, P3 had he matched him. “Lance Stroll is definitely not very consistently fast, although he’s decently quick every now and then,” the 73-year-old told Motorsport Magazin.

“Aston Martin has worked its way out of the midfield to be near the front. If you have a McLaren with you, if you want to attack a Norris and a Piastri, then you don’t just need one top driver, but two. The question is of course justified, can Lance Stroll do that?”

‘Can Lance Stroll do that?’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/can-la...s-contribution