Honda is facing another major personnel change after motorsport CEO Koji Watanabe confirmed he will leave the role at the end of 2026, adding to a turbulent season for the Japanese manufacturer and its Formula 1 partnership with Aston Martin.
Honda’s collaboration with Aston Martin has fallen well short of expectations during the 2026 Formula 1 season. The team entered the new regulations hoping its works partnership with the Japanese manufacturer would provide the foundation for a significant step forward, but instead Aston Martin has struggled to compete at the level anticipated.
The situation has already prompted changes within Honda’s Formula 1 operation. In September, the company announced the departure of engine development chief Tetsushi Kakuda.
Now another senior figure is set to leave.
Honda motorsport boss Watanabe to depart
Honda confirmed on Monday that Watanabe will step down from his position as motorsport CEO at the end of the year.
The 61-year-old has been with Honda since 1990 and became one of the key figures behind the manufacturer’s return to Formula 1. He assumed responsibility for the company’s motorsport activities after Honda combined its motorcycle and automobile racing divisions in 2022.
Keiichi Yasuda has been selected as his successor and will take over as Honda’s new motorsport CEO on January 1, 2027.
The change represents another significant reshuffle at the Japanese manufacturer during a difficult period for its Formula 1 programme.
Aston Martin partnership has fallen short
Honda’s return as Aston Martin’s works power-unit partner was expected to provide a major boost to both organisations under Formula 1’s new 2026 regulations.
Instead, Aston Martin has struggled to establish itself in the midfield, with the team’s overall performance leaving it well behind the ambitions outlined when the partnership was announced.
Honda is not solely responsible for Aston Martin’s problems. The competitiveness of a modern Formula 1 car depends on the interaction between its power unit, chassis, aerodynamics, energy management and wider technical operation.
However, the performance of the Honda power unit has inevitably attracted scrutiny given the manufacturer’s central role in Aston Martin’s 2026 project.
The situation has reportedly created frustration within Aston Martin, particularly as the team had expected the works relationship to deliver a much stronger competitive platform.
More changes after difficult start
Watanabe’s departure follows Kakuda’s exit and gives Honda another major leadership change to manage as it attempts to address its Formula 1 shortcomings.
There is no official indication that Watanabe’s departure is directly linked to Honda’s 2026 performance, and the timing alone should not be treated as confirmation of such a connection.
Nevertheless, the sequence of changes comes at a significant moment for Honda and Aston Martin.
With Yasuda taking over in January, Honda will enter the 2027 season with a new motorsport chief and a Formula 1 programme that has considerable ground to recover.
For Aston Martin, the priority will be ensuring that its partnership with Honda becomes the competitive advantage it was intended to be rather than another source of frustration.
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The Judge, a nom de plume of an experienced F1 journalist and site founder with long-standing sources across the paddock. With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
