FERNANDO ALONSO and Honda are poised for an explosive reunion after the Japanese manufacturer agreed a deal to supply Aston Martin with F1 engines.
Alonso savaged Honda when he was driving for McLaren, forcing the F1 team to eventually terminate their partnership with the company.
The Spaniard publicly mocked the reliability and performance – much to Honda's fury.
However, they could now team up once more after Alonso's Aston Martin team joined forces with Honda to supply them engines from 2026.
It comes after world champions Red Bull announced that they would be ditching Honda in favour of a tie-up with Ford.
Honda bosses say they have "no objections" to working with the two-time world champion, despite his criticism in the past.
Read More on F1
How the 2024 F1 grid may line up with NO Hamilton and new Verstappen team-mate
Win a VW Campervan + £1k or £40k cash alternative from just 89p with our discount code
Koji Watanabe said: "Our stance remains unchanged in thinking the selection of the drivers is fully up to the team members and not something that a partner and supplier like us is supposed to be making.
"So, we'll be leaving the driver selection to the team.
"We have been accelerating our development during all our recent time in Formula One, (including) while working with Alonso, and that enabled us to win the world championship [with Red Bull].
"I believe he's such a brand and respectable driver, but, like I said, the selection of drivers is up to the team to decide.
Most read in Motorsport
Carlos Sainz could be a doubt for Monaco GP as Ferrari F1 star seen in bandages
McLaren unveil shiny new livery but F1 fans complain of Alonso conspiracy
BBC F1 host Jennie Gow breaks down in tears as she recalls stroke
Wolff gives update on Hamilton's future as Ferrari line up £40m deal for F1 star
"So, if the team decides we'll have Alonso as a driver again, we will have no objections whatsoever in him driving."
Alonso, 41, drove for McLaren between 2015 and 2017 when he famously called the Honda power unit a GP2 engine at their home race in Suzuka.
Meanwhile, Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll says the Honda deal is "the final piece in the jigsaw" to establish them as one of F1's top teams.
He said: "Aston Martin and Honda have a lot in common, including engineering excellence and a long-term commitment and passion to win.
BETTING SPECIAL – BEST SPORTS BETTING APPS IN THE UK
"Honda and its engineers are racers and love to develop its products in competition. Racing is part of its DNA and always has been.
"Racing has also a part of Aston Martin's DNA for the last 110 years and together, we will win.
"Aston Martin is the fastest growing team in the sport and on social media, tripling our fanbase in the last two years.
"Our partnership with Honda is the final piece in the jigsaw to establish Aston Martin as a top team capable of winning world titles."
Source: Read Full Article
