Aston Martin have teased new footage of their new 2026 car ahead of the new season which will see them partner Honda for the first time.
It's not even been a month since Lando Norris secured his maiden F1 title with McLaren in Abu Dhabi, but already the focus is on what's to come ahead of a major regulation change.
In 2026 F1 cars will look considerably different to what fans have become accustomed to, with cars set to be smaller, lighter, and a completely redesigned chassis and wings.
The power unit has also been given a major overhaul, with a bigger focus on battery power and the use of advanced sustainable fuels.
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These changes mean every team is heading into a complete unknown when cars hit the track, with a major shakeup of the pecking order expected.
So far, teams have kept tight lipped and provided extremely minimal updates on their progress heading into the new year, however, Aston Martin have given fans a first tease of the 2026 challenger.
The team posted a video of the AMR26 being fired up, which is the first real footage we have seen of any team's 2026 car.
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The video has quickly gained a lot of reaction to fans online, with the introduction of Honda as an engine supplier making fans dream big ahead of the new seaaon.
One fan commented: "I hope Honda and Aston put the rest in their place. There's no doubt Honda will triumph again; they have everything they need to do it."
Another added: "AM is the dark horse for sure. if they nail the engine or its competitive. they're gonna be hard to beat over time."
A third replied: "Sounds like a third world title for Fernando Alonso to me."
A fourth claimed: "Honda will revolutionise Aston Martin into a championship contender."
"Honda are here to power my dreams," one fan replied.
Honda have been Red Bull's engine supplier since 2019, with Japanese brand powering the team to four driver's titles and two constructor's titles before making the move to Aston.
Red Bull will now be powered by Ford heading into 2026, and have reportedly found a genius loophole alongside Mercedes which should aid engine power.
Reports have suggested Aston Martin and Ferrari could stage a protest against the loophole if the FIA refuse to intervene.
What is changing to the power units?
In 2026, the power units will deliver more power via the electrical component.
While the power from the hybrid unit has dropped from around 550-560kw to 400kw, the battery power has increased from 120kw to 350kw, which is almost an increase of 300%.
Through making major changes to the power units, F1 have managed to entice Honda to make a return, with the likes of Audi and Ford joining the sport, with the latter joining forces with Red Bull Powertrains.
Tom Jenkins