As tensions rise at Red Bull, Honda hints at rekindling its successful F1 partnership with Verstappen through future ties with Aston Martin.
As Honda prepares to shift gears and power Aston Martin in 2026, the Japanese manufacturer isn’t ruling out the possibility of working again with four-time world champion Max Verstappen.
Earlier this week, Verstappen appeared in Tokyo for a farewell event marking the end of Honda’s successful partnership with Red Bull. The Dutch driver, who clinched all four of his titles with Honda power, hinted at a possible reunion in the future.
“I’m still young, and you never know what the future holds,” Verstappen said. “I could never have imagined the heights we’d reach together – four world titles is something special.”
And it seems the feeling is mutual. Honda has made it clear: the door is open for Max.
“After this season, our focus shifts to Aston Martin,” said Koji Watanabe, President of Honda Racing Corporation. “But honestly, I do hope we get another chance to work with Max. I really mean that.”
“He’s always shown great appreciation for our mindset and work ethic. He communicates clearly with our engineers, which is a big reason why they admire him so much. They’ve become true fans. There’s Max the athlete, but I respect him deeply as a person too.”
Verstappen’s future at Red Bull is beginning to look less certain. Frustrations have started to surface, especially after recent issues with chassis flexibility at Suzuka.
Behind the scenes, the team is rushing to upgrade its aging wind tunnel – one that advisor Dr. Helmut Marko described bluntly as “a leftover from the 1940s, built by the British army.”
There’s also growing concern over a disconnect between simulator data and real-world performance.
“The car feels very different on track than it does in the simulator,” said teammate Yuki Tsunoda after qualifying. “The difference was bigger than expected, especially in the high-speed corners.”
Marko confirmed the issue: “We really need to rethink our simulator processes. The base setups we use often don’t translate well to the actual track.”
Adding fuel to the fire, some in the paddock believe Red Bull’s junior team, Racing Bulls, may have built a better car this season. When asked, Verstappen couldn’t help but smile.
“I think they’ve surprised even themselves. Over one lap, they’re really close,” he said.
With Aston Martin joining forces with Honda and Verstappen’s future at Red Bull looking increasingly shaky, one question remains: is a high-profile reunion already in motion?
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Honda Eyes Verstappen Reunion as Red Bull Rift Grows Honda Eyes Verstappen Reunion as Red Bull Rift Grows