President states that Red Bull cannot keep Honda power in 2026.

      Discussions regarding the return of the V8 engine have effectively stalled.

      Mohammed Ben Sulayem may still be hopeful about reviving the loud V8 engines, but the engine manufacturers in Formula 1 are entirely focused on the 2026 season. Meetings held earlier this season explored the possibility of reversing the shift towards electrification, particularly due to concerns that the 2026 regulations could significantly slow down the pace of racing and diminish the overall competitive spectacle. Nevertheless, Honda Racing Corporation's president, Koji Watanabe, downplayed the idea that recent statements from the FIA suggest a revival of V8 engines is on the horizon.

      "For the time being, discussions have come to a standstill," he told the Japanese outlet as-web.jp. "As a result, we, the power unit manufacturers, are now focused on 2026. However, as long as the FIA's current principles remain unchanged, I hope discussions will resume soon." Honda has been clear about its stance on keeping electrification central to Formula 1's engine power. "We are aware of the present situation in F1," Watanabe emphasized. "Honda’s ambition for F1 to remain the premier level of motorsport has not changed. We will keep discussing the appropriate power unit for that. Honda believes that electrification is a vital aspect of progressing towards a sustainable future."

      Red Bull will lose Honda to Aston Martin for 2026 and beyond, with Max Verstappen’s current team developing its own engine subsidiary in partnership with Ford. Some speculate that the power unit from Red Bull-Ford for 2026 is currently underperforming, leading the team to approach Honda about the possibility of continuing to use Japanese-produced engines next year.

      "That is entirely impossible," Watanabe stated. "Even if we were approached now, it would be too late to prepare in time for 2026. The chances are zero." Red Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko has downplayed concerns regarding the Red Bull-Ford situation. "It's impossible to predict the future," he told f1-insider.com. "Four key components are crucial for the new engine: the battery circuitry, the combustion engine, the software, and the mandatory biofuel—none of which should be underestimated. I trust our engineers and have received positive feedback."

      Mercedes is expected to lead, and perhaps dominate, with its 2026 power unit, but this might leave customer McLaren still lagging behind. "Consider where they stood three or four years ago when we agreed for them to use our fast engines for the next few years," Toto Wolff remarked to Sky Italia. "They were in 18th place at that time, making the decision appear straightforward. With our current knowledge, I can’t say it was the wisest choice of my life," he added with a smile. Honda is also optimistic about its competitiveness in 2026, particularly with Adrian Newey working on designs at Aston Martin.

      "Aston Martin has already made several requests to enhance its competitiveness," Watanabe disclosed. "Whether those requests came directly from Newey, we cannot say, but we know that Andy (Cowell) previously led Mercedes’ power unit division, so he has a solid understanding of that aspect. Having someone of that caliber on the car development team is advantageous for us and facilitates discussions," the HRC president concluded.