Honda says it has not ruled out a Formula 1 return in 2026 and is keeping a close eye on the sport's aspirations for a carbon-neutral future.
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The Japanese manufacturer retired from Grand Prix racing at the conclusion of last year, with its parent business preferring to focus its efforts on zero-emission technology in road cars. However, it did not abandon grand prix racing entirely, with Red Bull taking over the operation of the Honda power units that helped Max Verstappen win the drivers’ title. Furthermore, an agreement was reached for Honda to continue engine manufacturing, assembly, and support, with Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) logos appearing on the Red Bull and AlphaTauri vehicles. Honda’s success in 2021, as well as F1’s huge push for a carbon-neutral future ahead of the move to new rules and sustainable fuels in 2026, has fueled talk that the Japanese manufacturer may be set to return.
Senior Honda executives, including Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe, chairman Seiji Kuraishi, HRC president Koji Watanabe, and director Yasuaki Asaki, attended the Austrian Grand Prix last weekend, fueling such speculation. Watanabe stated at the Red Bull Ring: “Formula 1 is the top motorsports category, so we are always watching what is happening in the F1 world. Of course, we just finished and concluded our activities, so nothing [has been] discussed within the Honda company about 2026 season. So, no plan. [But] it is not a closed door. My understanding is that F1 is discussing to decide the regulations for 2026, and definitely the direction is carbon neutrality. That is the same direction as us. So we don’t have to [diverge] from carbon neutrality through F1 now. It is probably also a good opportunity to study carbon neutral F1. So it’s not a closed door.”
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Branding of Honda
While Honda’s prospective return in full is still unknown, a greater level of involvement with Red Bull is becoming more likely. A closer technical cooperation is being discussed, along with a shift in branding to place more of an emphasis on the Red Bull teams and the return of the name “Honda.” Watanabe continued: “At least until 2025, Honda is going to be a kind of team partner of both teams. And although the detail is not decided yet, also HRC will become a kind of technical partner of both teams until 2025.” When pushed to rethink his branding strategy, Watanabe responded: “We need to decide for the next season, but personally I want to utilize more Honda….So the combination of Honda and HRC.”
Honda Power Units
It was initially thought that the Milton Keynes-based company had acquired the IP rights to the engines when Red Bull took over management of the Honda power units for this season with its new powertrains business. Prior to a potential merger with Porsche, Red Bull was eager to argue that it should be considered a new player, despite suggestions from competitors that it should be considered an established company due to its Honda DNA. Now that Watanabe has made it clear that Red Bull never bought the intellectual property for the engine, it will belong to Honda after the existing contract expires in 2025.
