NEWEY SAYS HONDA ARE “DISAPPOINTED” WITH THEIR PROGRESS IN FIRST YEAR BACK

Adrian Newey admits Honda is "disappointed" with how little ground the manufacturer has clawed back in its first year as Aston Martin's power unit supplier. The partnership started rough—serious vibration and reliability gremlins forced the FIA to loosen development budget caps in May just to give Honda breathing room. Upgrades followed, but Aston Martin sits 10th in the standings, ahead of only Cadillac, and Newey says the gains haven't met expectations.

The five-time champion designer draws a telling comparison: Honda today trails where it was when Red Bull took it on in 2019, four years into that first comeback cycle. This time it's year one. Newey backs Honda's resolve and talent pool, but the gap is real. These power unit regs are unforgiving, and Honda is learning on the fly.

The question for 2027 isn't whether Honda can catch up—it's how fast. Aston Martin's title ambitions depend on the answer.