Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) has announced a significant leadership shakeup within its Formula 1 power unit development programme, signaling a strategic shift as the manufacturer looks to salvage its struggling partnership with Aston Martin. Effective October 1, Yoichiro Fukao, the current Deputy Leader of the F1 project, will step up to the role of Large Project Leader (LPL), succeeding Tetsushi Kakuda.
The move comes at a critical juncture for Honda. Since the implementation of the 2026 technical regulations, the Japanese manufacturer has faced intense scrutiny regarding the performance and reliability of its power unit. The partnership with Aston Martin, bolstered by the arrival of legendary designer Adrian Newey, has failed to live up to the championship-winning pedigree the parties previously established at Red Bull. Currently languishing in P10 in the Constructors’ standings—ahead only of newcomer Cadillac—the team has been plagued by extreme vibration issues and a persistent lack of pace.
In a formal statement released Monday, HRC characterized the leadership change as a necessary step to “ensure the reliable transfer of technical expertise to the next generation of engineers.” By transitioning to this new structure now, Honda aims to fortify its development framework to address both the current 2026 regulations and the looming adjustments expected in 2027. “Honda aims to establish a robust development framework and deliver a highly competitive PU by transitioning to the new structure at an early stage,” the manufacturer added.
Fukao brings deep institutional knowledge to the LPL role. Having joined the Honda F1 programme in 2002, his expertise spans engine and gearbox control systems, MotoGP development, and the creation of mass-production hybrid systems. After returning to the F1 division in 2014, he served as control system development manager before being appointed deputy leader in 2017.
The leadership transition follows a demoralizing performance at the Spanish Grand Prix, where Lance Stroll suffered a DNF and Fernando Alonso finished a distant P19. Despite the poor results, Shintaro Orihara, Honda’s Trackside General Manager and Chief Engineer, maintains that the team is gaining ground.
Acknowledging that the recent race results were “not what we wanted,” Orihara noted that the introduction of a Spec 2 power unit at the Dutch Grand Prix has yielded tangible progress. “Over the past three races, we’ve improved the driveability of our power unit,” Orihara stated. “By reducing those issues, we can now focus on the performance side. We changed some calibrations this weekend, and session-by-session, we saw good signs in the data. This shows us all that we are working in the right direction.”
With Fukao at the helm, Honda faces the urgent task of translating that data into competitive track performance before the 2026 season slips further out of reach.
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