Honda Names Fukao to Lead F1 Power Unit Programme
Honda Names Fukao to Lead F1 Power Unit Programme
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Key Points
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Tetsushi Kakuda oversaw the Honda power units that powered Max Verstappen to four consecutive drivers’ championships with Red Bull before the leadership change.
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Honda’s RA626H power unit suffered severe vibrations early in the season, with concerns that the problem could potentially cause nerve damage to drivers; neither Aston Martin car finished the first three races because of Honda-related reliability failures.
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Honda trackside general manager Shintaro Orihara said the Spec 2 upgrade represented a dyno-confirmed step forward, but estimated its gain at only about 0.05 to 0.1 seconds per lap.
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The FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, met Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll to discuss a possible action plan for Honda, including potential development concessions.
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After the Spanish Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso criticized the engine’s performance, saying, “The engine was very bad today, the boost control was difficult,” while Aston Martin said early damage also affected his pace.
Honda is replacing the leader of its Formula 1 power-unit program on October 1, naming Yoichiro Fukao to take over from Tetsushi Kakuda. news.gp grandprix.com The move comes as Honda's partnership with Aston Martin struggles badly in 2026, with the team sitting last in the constructors' standings with only three points after just six races.
Honda describes the leadership change as a planned succession to transfer expertise and prepare for new regulations arriving in 2027. fmbharat.com Fukao, an engineer at Honda since 2002 with experience in engines, software, and hybrid systems, takes over amid early reliability failures and severe vibration problems that have plagued Aston Martin's season.
Kakuda's Winning Legacy Before the Turnaround
Tetsushi Kakuda led Honda's power-unit development through a golden era with Red Bull. formula1.com His engines powered Max Verstappen to four consecutive drivers' championships from 2022 to 2025. But the 2026 rulebook brought radical changes—new hybrid technology and different fuel blends—that caught Honda flat-footed alongside Aston Martin.
Early Reliability Disasters Shake Aston Martin's Season
The 2026 campaign opened with catastrophe for Honda's power units. readmotorsport.com Neither Aston Martin car finished the first three races due to Honda-related failures. The RA626H engine also suffered severe vibrations early in the season, raising concerns that the problem could cause nerve damage to drivers.
After the Spanish Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso criticized the engine directly. He said, "The engine was very bad today, the boost control was difficult." readmotorsport.com Early damage to his car also hurt performance, underscoring Aston Martin's mounting technical woes.
Spec 2 Upgrade Brings Hope, But Gains Remain Small
Honda released a Spec 2 power-unit upgrade to address early problems. news.gp Honda's trackside general manager said the upgrade represented progress confirmed on the dyno test stand. But the real-world gains proved modest—only about 0.05 to 0.1 seconds per lap.
The FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, met Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll to discuss potential fixes. grandprix.com Development concessions and an action plan were explored as the partnership searches for rapid improvement before regulation changes hit in 2027.
Fukao's Challenge: Rebuild Honda's F1 Program From Scratch
Yoichiro Fukao steps into one of Formula 1's toughest jobs. formula1.com He brings two decades at Honda, with deep expertise in engine controls, software, and hybrid systems across F1 and MotoGP. His task is to salvage the 2026 season and overhaul Honda's approach for the new regulations expected beyond 2027.
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