Schumacher urges Aston Martin to consider Honda split after difficult 2026 – Ralf Schumacher believes Aston Martin should consider changing engine suppliers after a difficult 2026 Formula 1 season, arguing that ending its Honda partnership could be the team’s “only chance” of improving its competitiveness.
Aston Martin has endured a difficult first season under Formula 1’s new 2026 regulations, with Fernando Alonso having scored just three points while teammate Lance Stroll remains without a point.
Despite signs of progress in recent races, German outlet Autonocion reports that concerns are growing at Aston Martin’s Silverstone base over whether Honda can provide the competitive power unit the team needs.
Schumacher believes Aston Martin should therefore be prepared to make a major change rather than wait for Honda’s situation to improve.
“I suspect that a change of engine manufacturer will be the only chance,” Schumacher said on the Sky podcast Backstage Boxengasse.
Schumacher questions Honda’s development
The former Formula 1 driver believes Honda has already had opportunities to improve its power unit but has not made enough progress.
“Honda had the opportunity to upgrade, but that didn’t really help,” Schumacher said. “This suggests that they didn’t have the right ideas and the right people in the right positions.”
His comments come as Aston Martin continues to struggle for points despite significant investment in its 2026 project.
The team entered the new regulations with major ambitions, supported by Honda’s works power-unit programme and the technical structure led by Adrian Newey. However, the early results have fallen well short of those expectations.
Aston Martin “cannot waste any time”
Schumacher described Aston Martin’s current position as “a huge embarrassment” given the resources and manufacturers involved in the project.
He also pointed to Red Bull’s decision to establish its own power-unit operation, arguing that the team’s progress demonstrates how quickly an independent engine programme can develop.
“If I were in an important role at Aston Martin, then I wouldn’t waste any time and would change the engine,” Schumacher declared.
However, switching suppliers would be a major undertaking, particularly under the current technical regulations.
Aston Martin would have to consider not only the performance of an alternative power unit but also its wider integration with the car’s transmission, rear-end architecture and other components.
Schumacher identifies Audi as an alternative
Schumacher believes Audi could eventually emerge as one of the stronger power-unit manufacturers in Formula 1, although he acknowledged that the German manufacturer’s project is still developing.
“I am firmly convinced that Audi will be among the better power units in Formula 1. However, they are still a bit in their infancy,” he said.
Audi entered Formula 1 as a works manufacturer for the 2026 regulations after taking control of the Sauber operation and developing its own power unit.
For Aston Martin, however, such a move would carry significant uncertainty. Schumacher acknowledged that changing engine suppliers would itself represent “a big risk.”
Schumacher proposes a broader technical reset
Rather than simply changing the power unit, Schumacher believes Aston Martin should look at removing as many potential weaknesses as possible.
“If I were the manager of Aston Martin now, I would want to eliminate the biggest potential sources of error,” he explained.
“If I could, that would mean taking over the gearbox and rear axle from Mercedes, whatever is offered, together with the powertrain.”
Aston Martin’s current situation therefore leaves the team facing a significant strategic decision. The Honda partnership remains central to its 2026 project, but Schumacher’s comments highlight the pressure created by a season in which Alonso and Stroll have struggled to convert the AMR26’s potential into regular points.
For now, any change of engine supplier would require substantial planning and technical restructuring. The question for Aston Martin is whether Honda’s development trajectory can improve sufficiently before the team decides that a more fundamental change is necessary.
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