It’s never too early for a bit of a silly season chatter, even if the contract dates in question aren’t until 2026.
In this case it’s also not drivers in the spotlight but teams and engine suppliers, with the 2026 power unit regulations looming into view.
Given the long lead time on engine development, it’s crucial teams and suppliers align themselves now to give themselves the best possible chance of success.
Having been badly undercut by a lack of run-up for the current turbo-hybrid rules, Honda is one of the manufacturers determined to start ahead of the curve.
The latest whispers suggest the Japanese marque is in close talks with Aston Martin over a deal that could take the green team to the next level and keep Honda in the winners circle.
There are also very early whispers about what next year’s calendar could look like, with China likely to return to the fold, while Valtteri Bottas has admitted Alfa Romeo’s sad form to start the season is a true reflection of the car’s sad pace.
ASTON MARTIN-HONDA PARTNERSHIP LOOKING LIKELY
Aston Martin is firming as a works partner for a new Honda power unit project, according to The Race.
The Japanese company has been on the hunt for a partner ahead of the introduction of new power unit regulations in 2026.
It had previously sought to renew technical ties with Red Bull Powertrains, but Honda reportedly took too long to confirm its intentions, leading to the energy drinks giant signing a lucrative deal with Ford instead.
Despite a dearth of attractive partnership options on the grid, Honda management has grown more determined to remain in the sport, and in recent months Aston Martin has emerged as a potential candidate.
The Lawrence Stroll-backed team is recently upwardly mobile and, as part of its plans for expansion, wants to move out of the orbit of current engine supplier Mercedes, with which it has a contract expiring at the end of 2025.
A Honda partnership would essentially make it a works team, which could earn it a competitive edge in the early years of the new regulations, when engine performance is likely to diverge among the manufacturers.
Red Bull Racing was able to wield a similar advantage to power Max Verstappen to his maiden 2021 title and continues to reap the rewards today.
Honda technically officially withdrew from Formula 1 in 2021 to redirect resources towards zero-emissions technologies.
It supplies Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri in a pure supplier-customer relationship with additional sponsorship.
But management changes have seen that decision gradually reversed, particularly in light of the Honda motor’s success in the sport as well as F1’s surging popularity.
According to The Race, the Honda board is likely to approve the company’s official 2026 return, a move that wouldn’t be made if a deal to partner with a team weren’t in the late stages of negotiation.
CHINA MAKES FIRST MOVE TO RETURN TO CALENDAR
The Chinese Grand Prix is increasingly likely to return to the Formula 1 calendar in 2024 following its reacquisition of the requisite FIA licence.
According to Shanghai Daily, the Shanghai International Circuit has had its grade 1 licence restored this month.
The licence was allowed to lapse during the pandemic, with ongoing restrictions in the country preventing a reappraisal of the 18-year-old circuit.
Repairs have been made to parts of the track surface, including the repainting of lines, and tyre barriers have been refreshed. There have also been upgrades to some of the grandstands.
The Chinese Grand Prix was due to run in April this season but was called off late last year when local COVID-19 restrictions were still leading to lockdowns. There were also concerns personnel who tested positive while in the country would be stuck in Shanghai until recovered.
It’s the fourth successive year the race has been called off. The circuit has a contract until the end of 2025.
Formula 1 is yet to release a calendar for next season, but early whispers are that China will be reinstated in its usual early-season timeslot but run back to back with Japan, which ordinarily takes place in September or October.
The season is tipped to start in Saudi Arabia, likely on 3 March, before the tour heads to Australia later that month.
It’s unclear whether Melbourne would run back to back with the opening race or stand alone again, as was the case this year.
China and Japan would then follow at the end of March.
BOTTAS ADMITS ALFA’S SLIP BACKWARDS IS REAL
In the game of real or over-reaction, Alfa Romeo’s deep slide towards the back of the grid in 2023 is the cold reality for the Swiss team.
The Sauber-run team took a significant step forward under the new rules last season to clinch sixth, and Hinwil was hoping to consolidate those gains in 2023.
But instead the downwards trend that took hold halfway through 2022 has continued apace, and the team is wallowing eighth in the championship with the second-slowest car in the sport.
Speaking after finishing a disappointing 13th in Miami — down from an impressive 10th on the grid — Valtteri Bottas admitted it was the best he could do with the equipment available to him.
“I think this reflects more the true pace that we have at the moment,” he told the F1 website. “We need to keep working. I obviously tried to fight the best I could but just couldn’t hold on.”
“[Updates are] very important — definitely much, much needed. I look forward to seeing how they work, but we definitely need to keep pushing.”
Alfa Romeo’s big start to 2022 was thanks to the C42 being the only car at the weight limit in the early days of the new rules while most other teams struggled to shed kilos.
However, with a full season and off-season in the books, Alfa’s rivals have all managed to find meaningful weight savings, neutralising the Swiss squad’s advantage and returning it to roughly where it was under the previous set of regulations.
Sauber is in the process of being acquired by Audi, which will rebrand the historic team as its works operation from 2026.
