Honda has revealed that it has received inquiries from “multiple” F1 teams regarding the supply of next-generation F1 power units in 2026. In the new F1 regulations to be introduced in 2026, six companies, Red Bull Ford, Mercedes, Ferrari, Alpine, Audi, and Honda, are registered as manufacturers.
Red Bull, Honda’s current supplier, decided to manufacture its own F1 engine at Red Bull Powertrains and cooperate with Ford on the hybrid part. Sister team Scuderia AlphaTauri has also decided to install a Red Bull Fordon power unit. Therefore, even if Honda becomes a F1 power unit supplier in 2026, there is no F1 team to supply. Honda held an online press conference on February 20, and HRC (Honda Racing) President Koji Watanabe talked regarding supplying F1 engines in 2026. “After I registered, I was contacted by several F1 teams,” Koji Watanabe said at a press conference. “For now, there is no concrete decision on whether or not to return to F1. “But from a technical development point of view, we believe that being in F1 will help technical development. That’s where we are. By the way.” Honda quit F1 and focused its resources on carbon-neutral projects to help its automotive business, which was lagging behind its rivals. F1’s 2026 regulations appear to fit Honda’s goals, as hybrids will run on 100% sustainable synthetic fuels and energy recovery systems will significantly increase power output. We are making a big shift toward becoming more sophisticated,” said Koji Watanabe. “Carbon neutrality is a company-wide goal for Honda, so we believe the future direction of F1 is in line with our goals,” he said. “That’s why we decided to register as a power unit manufacturer. I’m curious regarding the future of F1, which is the top race category, but what will happen if electrification advances? “We want to keep a very close eye on that.” Thing. As part of the 2022-2025 deal, Honda’s F1 business will be removed in Japan, with many engineers moving to zero-emissions projects and certain parts of the company including the battery assembly facility Honda had in the UK. Honda’s chief engineer and F1 project leader Satoshi Tsunoda, when asked if Honda needed more resources, said the Sakura was outfitted solely to handle the needs of the current Red Bull arrangement. I implied that it was. “We have shifted resources, but we have the necessary personnel at Sakura to operate the Red Bull power unit,” said Satoshi Tsunoda. “But at this point, we’re assuming we don’t have to do new development every year,” he said.