With just about a year left until the introduction of F1’s new regulations in 2026, Honda (HRC) is advancing the development of its next-generation power unit (PU) in preparation for its works partnership with Aston Martin. However, some reports suggest that Honda is “struggling,” sparking concerns among fans regarding the progress of its development. In reality, how prepared is Honda for this new era of F1? Based on comments from HRC’s power unit development chief, Tetsushi Tsunoda, we take a closer look at the situation.
Is Honda Really “Struggling”?
The 2026 regulation changes are considered one of the most significant transformations in recent F1 history. With fundamental changes required in the power unit, including a revised energy recovery system and the adoption of sustainable fuels, Honda has embarked on the challenge of developing its new PU.
Honda Racing (HRC) President Koji Watanabe stated in January this year that “the development of the 2026 PU is extremely challenging.” This comment was misinterpreted by international media as “Honda is struggling,” leading to growing doubts about Honda’s development progress. However, Tsunoda, who is directly involved in the project, holds a different perspective.
“The new PU is still a 1.6-liter V6 turbo, so in that sense, it’s not drastically different from the current engine. However, everything else changes—fuel, fuel flow, compression ratio, motor size, and battery size. That makes everything a challenge,” Tsunoda explained. His words suggest that rather than “struggling,” Honda is pushing forward with this “challenge.”
What is the Biggest Challenge for the 2026 PU?
One of the biggest hurdles Honda is currently facing is optimizing the new energy management system. From 2026, the power distribution between the internal combustion engine (ICE) and the electric motor will shift to a 50:50 ratio. This means that the output of the MGU-K (kinetic energy recovery system) will significantly increase, while the MGU-H (heat energy recovery system) will be eliminated. As a result, battery capacity and motor power will expand, making energy management more complex than ever.
“The key challenge is how to handle high-speed combustion,” Tsunoda emphasized. “Using sustainable fuels makes it difficult to achieve the same combustion efficiency as traditional gasoline engines.” Since sustainable fuels have different properties from conventional gasoline, optimizing the combustion process becomes a crucial task. Honda is currently working to overcome this challenge, stating that they are “developing the PU while replicating similar environments.”
Will the Aston Martin Partnership Accelerate Development?
Starting in 2026, Honda will form a works partnership with Aston Martin and supply its new PU to the team. Could this new relationship accelerate Honda’s development? According to Tsunoda, aligning development schedules between the two parties is a critical factor.
“I can’t go into detail about what we do and when with Aston Martin, but there are key moments where both sides must freeze major components. That’s why we are discussing with them, aligning our schedules to decide things at the right time,” Tsunoda explained.
This statement suggests that Honda and Aston Martin are working closely together. The packaging of the new PU and the optimization of the cooling layout require collaboration with the chassis development team, and the fact that they are already coordinating specific timelines indicates that progress is being made steadily.
Honda’s Outlook for 2026
Honda’s new PU development is not without challenges. However, based on Tsunoda’s words, the situation seems less about “struggling” and more about “continuously taking on challenges.”
“As engineers, we face difficulties every day, but we are enjoying the process,” he said. True to his words, Honda remains committed to technological innovation, tackling the challenges of sustainable fuels and advanced energy management as they work toward homologation for 2026.
Tsunoda stated, “It’s difficult to say exactly what percentage of development we have completed, but we are at a reasonable stage.” This indicates that Honda’s new PU development is progressing smoothly. As the new era of F1 approaches, will Honda be able to deliver a competitive power unit by leveraging its technological advancements and partnership with Aston Martin? The answer to that question is not far off.
