When Honda supplies Aston Martin’s Formula 1 team with engines from 2026, the manufacturer’s US arm will also play a crucial role
Honda’s US motorsport division will be involved in the development of the new Formula 1 powertrain to be used by Aston Martin from 2026. In addition, employees of the company will also support the Silverstone-based team at the racetracks
The organization, previously known as Honda Performance Development, was recently renamed Honda Racing Corporation USA. This change reflects a closer association with HRC Japan as the US arm expands its involvement in the group’s global programs.
In this context, Honda confirms that “with now three Formula 1 races in the US, the new HRC US will be involved in Formula 1 power unit development and race support from 2026 onwards”.
Any research and development contribution from the US side will fall under the FIA’s financial regulations for power units. In other words, work on the Formula 1 project in the US must be fully counted under the cost cap and will reduce the resources HRC Japan can deploy.
David Salters, President of HRC US, emphasizes, “The team and I are excited and honored to be embarking on this next racing adventure.”
“Honda’s racing heritage is exceptional. I’ve just returned from Honda’s annual ‘Thanks Day’ at Twin Ring Motegi: MotoGP, Formula 1, Indycar, Motocross, Dakar Endurance, Trials, Touring Cars, Super GT – all have been represented at the highest level by a paddock full of world champions.”
“Only Honda can do that. We challenge ourselves and entertain our fantastic fans in all the top sports, on two and four wheels. We can be immensely proud that we are uniting our companies and great people into one global racing organization – HRC Honda Racing. “
In a speech in September, Koji Watanabe, President of HRC Japan, also emphasized the benefits of merging the two companies: “Our goal is to strengthen the HRC brand and maintain the success of our racing activities.”
“We believe that uniting Honda Motorsports worldwide into one racing organization will help us achieve this,” he said. “Our race engineers in the U.S. and Japan will be stronger together, and I am very pleased to welcome our U.S. staff to the HRC team.”
Honda Performance Development (HPD) was originally founded by American Honda Motor Co. Inc. in 1993 before making its debut as a factory supplier in the IndyCar Series the following year. Since then, Honda has earned 15 Indy 500 victories, with six coming when it was the sole supplier.
In the years they competed with other manufacturers, Honda won 13 drivers’ championships and ten manufacturers’ championships. The California-based HPD organization has also been involved in IMSA, Baja off-road competition, touring cars and Formula Regional America.
