Honda does not think the door to Formula 1 is closed

Since Honda officially retired from Formula 1, the powerplants still built and maintained by Honda have already won seven races for Red Bull Racing this year.

But in 2022 there are no more Honda logos on Red Bull and AlphaTauri cars, and to see the modest HRC (Honda Racing Corporation) abbreviation on the hood, you have to look closely.

The top management of the Japanese company considers the decision to complete the program in Formula 1 justified as priorities change, but against the background of the latest successes of their technologies, Honda is getting stronger in the position of those who believe it will may return in the future.

One of the factors influencing the decision to pull out was Honda’s commitment to carbon neutrality, but Formula 1 also announced the Net Zero program, which should be implemented by 2030. At the same time, there will be a transition to fully synthetic fuel as early as 2026 – on which the next generation of power plants will run.

The recent Austrian Grand Prix, at the special invitation of Red Bull, was attended by a representative delegation from Honda, made up of company CEO Toshihiro Mibe, vice president Seiji Kuraishi, as well as HRC president Koiji Watanabe, and Yasuaki Asaki. , head of the company’s racing division and head of its research and development division, which deals with, among other things, Formula 1.

When Watanabe was asked if Honda’s mechanics would study the new engine regulations that come into force in 2026, the Japanese manager replied: “F1 is the highest category of motorsport, so we always keep an eye on what is happening in Formula 1. Of course, we have only recently completed our program in the World Cup, so the outlook for 2026 has not yet been discussed in the company, so there is no planning.

At the same time, the door to Formula 1 is not closed. As far as I understand there is now discussion in the championship about the regulations for 2026 and a course has already been set towards CO2 neutrality. But we’re going in the same direction. Probably all this also offers good opportunities to study similar things in F1.

So the door remains open, but Honda does not participate in discussions about next-generation engines and only monitors their progress. When and if we think we can actually achieve carbon neutrality, we can consider returning to F1.

I don’t know the specific dates, but if we really want to return in 2026, the decision will probably have to be made within the next year or year and a half.

At the same time, Honda will remain a partner of both teams. The details of this partnership have not yet been discussed, but HRC will be the technical partner of Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri until 2025.”