Newey opens up about Aramco’s role in Aston Martin’s 2026 power unit and fuel programme

Aston Martin team principal Adrian Newey has underlined the pivotal role of the team’s title partner, Aramco, as Formula One prepares for the introduction of fully sustainable fuels and an all‑new generation of power units in 2026.

With the sport entering one of its most significant regulatory resets, Newey emphasised that the collaboration between Aston Martin, Honda, Aramco and Valvoline has become a central pillar of the team’s technical ambitions.

Newey explained that the shift to sustainable fuel is one of the defining challenges of the new regulations. “One of the key aspects of this year’s regulations is the new power units, and with that comes the move to using fully sustainable fuel for the first time in Formula One,” he said.

“Aramco are absolutely pivotal for us here because of how they develop fuel, as are Valvoline, which is developing the oil, to suit the work Honda is doing and are a big part of a very complicated, but very important, equation.”

He stressed that without a partner of Aramco’s technical calibre, Honda’s development programme — and by extension Aston Martin’s competitiveness — would be compromised.

“Without having a technical partner and fuel supplier with Aramco’s expertise, Honda’s development of the power unit would be restricted and that, in turn, would restrict us,” Newey said. “The work Aramco are doing is going to stand us in very good stead.”

According to Newey, Aramco’s commitment has deepened significantly as the 2026 project has evolved. “Becoming a technical supplier of ours has been a big change for Aramco,” he noted.

That shift has required substantial internal restructuring and investment from the Saudi‑based energy company. “They’ve had to reorganise. They’ve had to expand their facilities in certain areas to suit what is a very specific challenge: developing a fuel for a Formula One team,” Newey explained.

“They are already experienced in this area as supplier low‑carbon fuels to other formulas, such as F2, F3 and F1 ACADEMY, but of course, Formula One being what it is, we want to take their knowledge and expertise much further. They are developing very specific fuels to suit the Honda engine and our needs.”

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