Honda has changed the leadership of its Formula 1 engine programme after a disappointing start to its return as a works engine partner with Aston Martin.


Honda, which won four consecutive drivers’ and constructors’ world titles with Red Bull and Max Verstappen from 2021 to 2024, joined Aston Martin for the 2026 season, BBC reports.


However, the partnership has struggled for performance, with Aston Martin 10th of 11 teams in the constructors’ championship. Fernando Alonso’s ninth-place finish at the Dutch Grand Prix is Honda’s best result so far this season.


Honda announced on September 14 that Yoichiro Fukao, previously deputy leader of the project, would become the new Large Project Leader for its F1 programme. He replaces Tetsushi Kakuda, who had overseen power-unit development this season.


Honda said the change was a planned transition aimed at ensuring the transfer of technical expertise to a new generation of engineers.


The Japanese manufacturer also said the new structure would help it prepare for further regulatory changes expected from 2027, after the introduction of major new engine regulations this season.


Honda brought its first engine upgrade of the campaign to the Dutch Grand Prix. Shintaro Orihara, the company’s general manager for trackside operations, said Honda had seen a step forward in performance, although the improvement was understood to have been smaller than Aston Martin had expected.


The Honda power unit is believed to be costing Aston Martin at least a second per lap through a combination of internal combustion engine performance and the efficiency of its electrical system.


The 2026 regulations have created a much closer balance between internal combustion and electrical power, making energy recovery and deployment particularly important.


At last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, Alonso was eliminated in the first part of qualifying after recording a time 2.2 seconds slower than the fastest driver in the session.


Honda will now seek to improve its power unit under the new leadership as Aston Martin attempts to recover from its difficult start to the new regulations era.


By Aghakazim Guliyev