Honda Racing Corporation confirms a CEO change for 2027, with Koji Watanabe retiring at year’s end. Keiichi Yasuda will assume the role on January 1, aligning leadership with motorsport’s competitive calendar.

Yasuda, currently HRC’s executive vice president and representative director, is a Honda veteran from the early 1990s. He brings overseas leadership experience and a strong human-resources background.

His priority is performance through unity. He plans targeted investment in people, clearer structures, and closer engagement with partners and fans to convert organisational strength into results.

Honda returns to Formula 1 in 2026 as Aston Martin’s power unit supplier. Early running under the new regulations highlights integration challenges and the learning curve against established frontrunners.

Starting on January 1 gives Yasuda control of winter programmes and 2027 planning from day one, a practical step as expectations grow around the 2026 Aston Martin–Honda project.

Watanabe’s tenure consolidates Honda’s motorcycle and automobile racing under HRC. He oversees creation of HRC US and HRC UK and sets the strategic course for Honda’s F1 comeback.

He continues through the remainder of the year targeting race wins while ensuring a clean handover. That continuity supports power-unit build and Aston Martin chassis integration, including the recent upgrade push.

Competitive upside hinges on efficient packaging, energy-recovery deployment, and alignment with Aston Martin’s aerodynamic direction. HRC UK’s role will be central to rapid feedback loops and reliability validation.

Regulatory context remains exacting, from the power-unit cost cap to software oversight. Early leadership clarity reduces risk under intensified FIA intervention and evolving 2026 technical interpretations.

The near-term measure of progress arrives in 2026, but Yasuda’s imprint will show in 2027. Execution across people, process, and partner alignment will determine whether momentum converts to podiums.

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Brian Thompson

Brian Thompson focuses on IndyCar Series news, from qualifying speeds at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to street-course race strategy. He delivers concise feature stories and technical breakdowns on chassis setups, tire choices, and championship standings for open-wheel enthusiasts.