Honda Motor (TYO:7267) has introduced its new Formula One power unit, which it will supply to the Aston Martin team beginning this season, Nikkei Asia reported on Wednesday, citing President Toshihiro Mibe.

The company's latest return to the sport is a strategic effort to enhance its brand through high-performance technology that can transfer to mass-market vehicles, the publication said.

Honda has a storied, though intermittent, history in F1 since 1964, using it as a technical proving ground, the report added.

The automaker sees the 2026 rule changes, which emphasize electrification and sustainable fuels, as a key opportunity to develop next-generation engineering talent, said the news daily.

Its subsidiary, Honda Racing, is developing the new power unit set to debut at the season opener in March in Australia, it said.

(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)