Fast Five: Honda to partner Aston Martin on 2026 engine, FIA probes second pit lane incident, and other big updates

Honda to partner Aston Martin on 2026 engine

Honda is likely to partner with the Aston Martin team for a new Formula 1 engine project in 2026 after registering its interest in the new engine regulations with the FIA late last year. Red Bull's decision to work with Ford on a new in-house F1 engine for 2026 meant that Honda needed a new partner. While there is conflicting information over whether Honda's board has made its final decision, it is becoming increasingly likely that a 2026 project with Aston Martin will be confirmed soon.

Click here to read the full article by Scott Mitchell-Malm (the-race.com).

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FIA probes second pit lane incident

The FIA is investigating a second pit lane incident in two weeks after a local marshal narrowly avoided being hit by Lando Norris during the F1 Miami Grand Prix. The incident follows last week's near-miss in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The FIA is looking into the matter and has introduced new protocols to prevent similar situations. Team mechanics are not allowed to move until after the last car has taken the checkered flag, while any personnel or VIPs are not allowed to enter the pit lane until after the race.

Click here to read the full article by Lewis Larkam (crash.net).

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Why each fantasy decision matters

The F1 Fantasy Global League only shows the top 500 teams, making it difficult for players outside this range to know their position. An experiment was conducted during the Miami Grand Prix to test the impact of a single lineup decision on the ranking. The experiment revealed that careful lineup selection could significantly impact overall ranking, and even a subpar score could improve position. More experiments will be conducted throughout the season to predict the spread in the Global League rankings.

Click here to read the full article on F1FantasyHQ.com.

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Aston Martin sells $80M of safety cars

Aston Martin's CEO, Lawrence Stroll, revealed that the carmaker may have gained up to $80 million from featuring in Formula One races, particularly through the sales of its Vantage F1 edition cars, which were used as F1's safety car. Stroll highlighted the "race on Sunday, sell on Monday" effect and said that the company sold between 300 and 400 of these cars as a result. While Aston Martin's shares have declined significantly since its initial public offering, Stroll remains optimistic about eventually seeing a return on his investment.

Click here to read the full article by Ryan Hogg (businessinsider.com).

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Ricciardo reveals next line of action

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Daniel Ricciardo is set to drive the RB19 for the first time after the British Grand Prix in July as part of his third driver duties for Red Bull. The Australian returned to the team in a supporting role after leaving McLaren at the end of the 2022 season.