Aston Martin leads collaboration ahead of 2026 F1 regulations

Last week, the Aston Martin Formula One Team became one of the first major teams to take steps in addressing the significant regulatory changes coming to F1 in 2026.

Aston Martin's recent announcement, in collaboration with Title Partner Aramco, Official Lubricant partner Valvoline, and future engine supplier Honda, highlights the strides they are making toward these new regulations, which will see the sport switch to fully sustainable fuels and place greater emphasis on hybrid powertrains.

The partnership between these four entities has been formalised in what has been described as a "technical collaboration agreement." This agreement focuses on leveraging the unique expertise of each brand to drive the development of next-generation fuels and lubricants, which will play a critical role in achieving F1's sustainability goals. 

The partnership with Aramco is particularly notable given Aramco's leadership in energy development and fuel technology, with the brand currently fuelling the F2, F3 and F1 Academy categories with 55% sustainable fuels. Meanwhile, Honda, which is set to take over as Aston Martin’s engine provider in 2026 (replacing Mercedes' power units), brings its own expertise in hybrid systems. 

Although the shift to sustainable fuels is widely discussed in the Paddock and beyond, concrete details have been scarce, making this statement one of the first significant announcements to shed light on the progress being made behind the scenes. However, much remains unclear about what exactly these advancements are, and what they will mean for the future of the sport.

As the clock ticks towards 2026, this collaboration signals Aston Martin's intent to be at the forefront of the sport’s evolution. With the combined expertise of Aramco, Valvoline, and Honda, it will be fascinating to see how these partnerships contribute to the team's performance and the sport’s broader transition to sustainable technology.