It’s not always necessary to use words to describe a rivalry. Sometimes, an engine note is enough in certain situations. From McLaren-Honda’s thunderous domination to Mercedes’ hybrid-era dominance beginning in 2021, Honda and Mercedes have been trading punches in Formula 1 for decades. However, Honda just fired the opening shot as the 2026 regulation reset approaches, releasing an intriguing audio sample tease. And moments later, fans already dubbed Fernando Alonso the future champion.

‘Listen’ to Honda’s 2026 bombshell

Honda didn’t require a big reveal or an eye-catching trailer. Only twenty seconds of sound, though. “You heard it here first” was the caption on their widely shared post.

It was a clear, forceful audio sample of their next-generation F1 power unit coming to life, as the

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