Honda has a long and storied history in the world of motorsports. The Japanese automaker has competed in various motorsport disciplines around the world, including Formula 1. Honda’s involvement in Formula 1 has been sporadic over the years, with periods of intense competition followed by years of absence. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at Honda’s past, present, and future in Formula 1.

Honda’s Past in Formula 1

Honda first entered Formula 1 in the 1960s, with limited success. However, the company returned to the sport in the 1980s and had a much more successful stint.

Honda-powered cars won multiple Constructors’ Championships and Drivers’ Championships during this time, with legendary drivers like Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost driving Honda-powered cars to victory.

Honda’s success in Formula 1 continued into the 1990s, but the company eventually withdrew from the sport in 1992 due to economic reasons.

Honda made a brief return to Formula 1 in the early 2000s as an engine supplier, but the company struggled to compete with the dominant Ferrari team and eventually withdrew from the sport once again in 2008.

Return of Honda to Formula 1

Honda returned to Formula 1 as an engine supplier in 2015, but the company struggled to compete with the likes of Mercedes and Ferrari.

However, Honda’s fortunes changed when the company partnered with Red Bull Racing in 2019.

Red Bull Racing had previously been powered by Renault engines, but the team was dissatisfied with the performance of the Renault power units and decided to switch to Honda.

Honda’s partnership with Red Bull Racing has been highly successful, with the team winning multiple races and finishing in the top three in the Constructors’ Championship in 2019 and 2020.

The team is currently performing well in the 2021 season, with Red Bull driver Max Verstappen leading the championship standings.

Honda’s Technology and Innovation in Formula 1

Honda has always been at the forefront of automotive technology, and the company’s involvement in Formula 1 has been no different.

Honda was one of the first automakers to develop a hybrid power unit for Formula 1, and the company’s technology has been a key factor in the success of the Red Bull Racing team.

Honda’s hybrid power unit technology is highly advanced, using a combination of a turbocharged V6 engine and electric motors to power the car.

The system is incredibly complex, with thousands of components working together to deliver maximum performance.

Honda’s technology has not only helped the Red Bull Racing team win races, but it has also contributed to the future of Formula 1 by pushing the limits of what is possible in automotive engineering.

Future Plans of Honda in Formula 1

Honda has expressed a strong commitment to Formula 1, and the company has indicated that it plans to continue its involvement in the sport for the foreseeable future.

Honda is currently the exclusive engine supplier for the Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri teams, but the company has also expressed interest in partnering with other teams in the future.

However, there are some potential challenges that Honda may face in the future.

Formula 1 is undergoing a major shift in its regulations, with a focus on sustainability and cost reduction.

These changes could have a significant impact on Honda’s involvement in the sport, as the company’s technology is highly complex and expensive to develop.

Why Did Honda Leave F1?

Honda has left Formula 1 on multiple occasions for various reasons.

The first time Honda left Formula 1 was in 1968. The company had only been in the sport for two seasons, and the decision to withdraw was due to financial difficulties.

Honda returned to Formula 1 in the 1980s, and had a highly successful stint as an engine supplier to teams like Williams and McLaren. However, the company withdrew from the sport again in 1992, citing economic reasons.

Honda made a brief return to Formula 1 in the early 2000s as an engine supplier, but the company struggled to compete with the dominant Ferrari team and eventually withdrew from the sport once again in 2008.

At the time, Honda cited the global financial crisis as the reason for its departure from Formula 1.

Honda returned to the sport in 2015 as an engine supplier to McLaren, but the partnership was plagued with problems.

The McLaren-Honda partnership was highly unsuccessful, with the team struggling to compete at the highest level and experiencing numerous reliability issues with the Honda power unit.

As a result, Honda and McLaren ended their partnership after three seasons, with Honda withdrawing from the sport once again.

However, Honda returned to Formula 1 in 2019 as an engine supplier to Red Bull Racing and its sister team, AlphaTauri.

This partnership has been highly successful, with Honda-powered cars winning multiple races and competing at the highest level in the sport.

Honda has expressed a strong commitment to Formula 1 and plans to continue its involvement in the sport for the foreseeable future.

 

Conclusion

Honda’s involvement in Formula 1 has been a rollercoaster ride, with periods of intense success followed by years of absence from the sport.

However, the company’s return to Formula 1 in 2015 has been highly successful, thanks in large part to the company’s partnership with Red Bull Racing.

Honda’s advanced hybrid power unit technology has helped the team win races and compete at the highest level in the sport.

Looking to the future, Honda has expressed a strong commitment to Formula 1, but the company may face some challenges as the sport undergoes major changes.

Despite these challenges, Honda’s technology and innovation will continue to play a key role in the sport, pushing the limits of what is possible in automotive engineering.

In conclusion, Honda’s involvement in Formula 1 has been significant and impactful, both in the past and present.

The company’s technology and innovation have helped shape the sport and will continue to do so in the future.

Honda’s commitment to Formula 1 is a testament to the company’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of automotive engineering, and fans of the sport can look forward to seeing what Honda will achieve in the years to come.