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Honda replaces F1 power unit boss in organisation shuffle
The Japanese manufacturer said the planned transition will help accelerate power unit development and transfer technical expertise to younger engineers.
On Monday, Honda Racing Corporation announced a leadership restructure for its power unit program, promoting Yoichiro Fukao to Large Project Leader effective October 1st, 2026.
This reorganization comes amid a difficult 2026 season, with Aston Martin sitting 10th of 11 teams and Honda failing to capitalize on new engine regulations introduced this year.
Following Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso finished 17th while Lance Stroll retired, with both drivers reporting lingering driveability issues with the power unit.
Describing the move as a "planned transition," Honda aims to establish a robust development framework and capitalize on an overhauled power unit for 2027.
Trackside general manager Shintaro Orihara said Honda "observed step forward in terms of performance on our metrics," though the gain remains small and less than Aston Martin expected.
After a first half of the season below expectations, the Japanese brand announced that it will bring changes to the top of its Formula 1 Power Unit development program from October 1st. The World Championship returns from September 24th to 26th in Baku on Sky and streaming on NOW GP SPAIN: HIGHLIGHTS - CLASSIFICATIONS