Aston Martin and Honda officially launched their Formula 1 factory partnership at an event in Tokyo where the Japanese manufacturer’s new power unit, the RA626H, was unveiled.

Honda continued to support Red Bull technically after officially leaving Formula 1 in 2021, and will fully return in 2026 as Aston Martin’s official partner in the new era of the championship, where the electric motor and internal combustion engine share energy 50/50. This makes Aston Martin an official works team; whereas before the team was just a client team.

Preparations for the season were carried out with the participation of Aston Martin’s key partners and under the supervision of the team’s chief strategist Andy Cowell. The RA626H is designed to meet new regulatory requirements by providing maximum reliability and performance in the new environment.

Everything is ready for 26.@AstonMartinF1 | @Honda | @HondaJP_Live | @HondaRacing_US | @HondaRacingGLB #F1 #POWEREDByHonda pic.twitter.com/SlN75Nz4Ll

— Honda Racing F1 (@HondaRacingF1) January 20, 2026

Max Verstappen says his participation in the Nürburgring 24 Hours is in doubt.

The four-time F1 champion has long been involved in endurance racing and is actively racing and testing in GT3, but full preparation for the Nordschleife marathon coincides with the Formula 1 calendar. The preparation races coincide with the F1 stages and the Dutchman does not want to go to the start without them.

“It’s very difficult to give a definitive answer right now,” Max said.

“I would like to start well prepared, but the preparation races coincide with Formula 1. Therefore, this year I will only be able to participate in the race if there is a change in the calendar.”

Therefore, Verstappen’s participation in the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours is still in doubt and directly depends on possible changes in the program or compromises between Formula 1 and the marathon training program.

The first week of Formula 1 testing is approaching. The teams are preparing for the first joint test at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, ​​followed by two more sessions in Bahrain.

The first cars to take to the track were Audi and Cadillac, now Racing Bulls have joined them. The Faenza team chose Imola as their “home” for the debut of the 2026 model.

The outgoing Alfa Tauri and Toro Rosso recently unveiled livery at an event in Detroit alongside Red Bull, but the actual vehicles of the new generation remain largely under wraps for now. There will be multiple technical changes before the season starts in Melbourne.

In the 2026 season, Alan Permain’s team will field Liam Lawson and debutant Arvid Lindblad. In the context of radically updated regulations, testing will be vital for the adaptation of pilots and crews.

Therefore, Racing Bulls decided not to wait for official testing in Barcelona. Today VCARB03 will travel approximately 15 km as part of an exercise to check the accuracy of the assembly, and on January 22 the team will conduct a full shooting day with 200 km of driving allowed.