How factory visit helped Aston Martin beat rivals to Honda F1 engine deal

The Japanese manufacturer announced on Wednesday morning that it will be embarking on an exclusive works relationship with Aston Martin from 2026, after its current partnership with Red Bull ends.

The arrangement comes after Honda initially lodged its interest in producing an engine for the 2026 rules last November, without having any clarity on potential partners.

Reflecting on how the negotiations progressed from there, Honda says that several F1 outfits expressed…