A simple handshake ignited speculation in the paddock. But Aston Martin ensures that there were never any tensions to soothe with Honda.
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The Japanese Grand Prix weekend was not only marked by Aston Martin’s difficulties on track. A scene captured on the starting grid also drew attention: the handshake between Lawrence Stroll and Koji Watanabe.
In an already tense context, marked by a complicated start to the season for the British team, some saw it as a strong symbol. An attempt at reconciliation between Aston Martin and Honda, while performance and reliability are not there.
But this interpretation was quickly swept away internally. For Aston Martin, this image translates to absolutely no malaise or conflict between the two technical partners.
Mike Krack sets the record straight
It was Mike Krack who wanted to put out the media fire. The Luxembourgish leader firmly denied any idea of tensions requiring a “peace” to be sealed.
“There was no need to make peace, because we have a good relationship,” he explains. Far from a symbolic gesture intended to calm spirits, this handshake was simply part of a normal and respectful framework.
With the Japanese Grand Prix being a home round for Honda, Aston Martin especially wanted to show its respect towards its partner.
“We have a lot of respect for Honda and we know how hard they are working on the problems we are encountering,” Krack continues.
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A delicate sporting context nonetheless
While the relationship between the two entities is described as healthy, the sporting situation remains worrying. The Silverstone team is struggling to exist at the start of this 2026 season, with a car that is both underperforming and fragile.
During the Suzuka event, both cars started from the back of the grid, illustrating the current difficulties of the project. Lance Stroll was even forced to retire from the race, the victim of another technical issue.
In this context, external pressure has logically increased, fueling speculation about possible internal tensions or tensions with Honda.
Alonso saves the essentials, Aston Martin wants to move forward
Despite this complicated weekend, Fernando Alonso still brought a positive note by seeing the finish. A first this season for Aston Martin, which until then had never managed to complete a full race distance.
A small step forward, which symbolizes the efforts undertaken behind the scenes to make the car more reliable. For Krack, the main thing is elsewhere: maintaining cohesion and continuing to work hand in hand with Honda.
“It was also a matter of respect on our part to do everything to finish the race,” he emphasizes.
More than ever, Aston Martin seems to want to present a united front. Because in a season that is already off to a bad start, the stability of the partnership with Honda could well be one of the keys to hoping to turn things around in the coming months.
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