If Honda returns to F1 following 2026, it needs to be more than an engine supplier. Koji Watanabe, the president of HRC (Honda Racing), said that as a “personal opinion”.
Honda’s F1 engine continues to be used in Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri this year, but Honda itself officially withdrew from F1 at the end of 2021.
A decision was made in 2020 as Honda’s board wanted to divert the money and talent spent in F1 investing in new automotive technologies to help achieve its 2050 carbon-neutral goal. rice field.
However, F1’s popularity has grown and changes in its business model to make it more competitive have convinced Porsche and Audi to close deals in various ways to enter F1 in 2026. New engine regulation is introduced.
Koji Watanabe, president of HRC (Honda Racing Corporation) and executive manager of Honda Motor Co., Ltd.’s Brand Communication Division, said that the return to F1 has not been officially discussed within Honda, but it is appropriate. He told The Race that it was possible under certain conditions, and confirmed that Honda might eventually return in more than just an engine maker.
Earlier, The Race reported inside Honda that future F1 projects needed to be a complete works team to the CEO.
Honda didn’t consider the works team to return to the V6 turbo hybrid era because it felt that expertise was on the engine side.
When asked if that was the case, Koji Watanabe replied, “Yes. At this point, it is.”
Honda’s F1 history is divided into four eras: works teams in the 1960s, engine suppliers in the 1980s, works engine projects that reconnected to works teams by the late 2000s, and more recently engine suppliers.
Then, when it was jokingly suggested that Honda would participate in the works team once more as the fifth term from the pattern of works team → engine supplier → works team → engine supplier, Koji Watanabe said, “If so. Then, if you come back, it will be a new way to participate. “
Koji Watanabe reiterated that if Honda were to return to F1, he would have to be in F1 in a more complicated position, using his “personal opinion.”
“I don’t know exactly what the direction is, but we need a new way to participate,” said Koji Watanabe.
“It’s not just the power unit supplier. It’s something else. But I don’t know if it’s a team or something else.”
Honda will undertake the assembly and maintenance of Red Bull’s existing F1 engines until the end of 2025. After that, Red Bull will carry out its own engine project.
Manufacturers continue to follow the F1 process in finalizing F1 engine regulations for 2026, but also make an imminent switch to 100% sustainable fuel.
Koji Watanabe reiterated that it was “premature” to talk regarding Honda’s possibility of returning to F1 and “no discussion” regarding it.
However, Honda admits that it is “interested” in the technological direction of F1 because it is considering various development paths.
“From that perspective, if F1 is really focused on carbon neutrality (technology), we are still interested in F1’s activities,” said Koji Watanabe.
While the obvious factor in returning to F1 is the consideration of cost and labor allocation, Koji Watanabe also acknowledges that the growing popularity of F1 may have an impact.
One of the reasons why the Volkswagen Group brand is so interested in F1 is that it is becoming more and more attractive worldwide, especially in key markets.
Koji Watanabe admits that “F1 is becoming more and more popular in the United States. It’s important to us as well.”
“Our business in Europe is very small. Therefore, with plans in the US or North American and Chinese markets, if F1 is widespread, it will be very important for us to make a decision.”
Koji Watanabe was one of Honda’s leaders who visited the Austrian Grand Prix with Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe, Chairman Seiji Kuraishi, and HRC Director Yasuaki Asagi.
However, as previously reported, this is effectively to Red Bull for the 2021 season, which won the partnership title as Honda executives were unable to compete in any race last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a gratitude.
One business item was planned, but it is said that discussions on F1 return in 2026 and future F1 engine regulation were not on the agenda.
The current F1 engine supply contract means that Honda will continue to be Red Bull’s technical partner under the name of HRC, and Koji Watanabe said that the two companies need to maintain a “strong relationship”.
As a result, Red Bull and Honda may revise their brand contracts from 2023 to 25 to raise awareness of F1 engines designed and manufactured for Red Bull.
“We are developing the engine itself, so we have no regrets regarding leaving F1. We are really proud of the current situation,” said Koji Watanabe.
“We also support the operation of the power unit itself. The power unit is still our child in a sense.”
“We are no longer an official supplier and we don’t care regarding the name itself.”
“But it might be said that the original was made by Honda or is currently supported by HRC.”
Category: Category: F1 / Honda F1
