After Honda left Formula 1 (F1) officially at the end of 2021, they continued to provide engines to Red Bull and RB (previously AlphaTauri) until 2025. These engines were supplied by Honda Racing Corporation (HRC). However, Red Bull plans to use its powertrain with Ford in the future.
But Honda is coming back to F1 when new rules for engines start in 2026. These rules will make the engines simpler and less expensive. Honda will be the main engine supplier for Aston Martin.
To help with this, HRC has made a new company in the UK and will open a factory. The president of HRC, Koji Watanabe, will lead this company. He has been with Honda since 1987.
The new company will mainly work on fixing and getting the F1 engines ready after races. It will also handle logistics for Europe. This will help Honda support Aston Martin in F1.
In May 2023, Honda and Aston Martin announced they would work together. Honda will provide engines that follow the new F1 rules starting from 2026.
HRC will start hiring engineers, technicians, and PR staff in the spring.
HRC USA, based in California, will also help with the new engines. Since there are more races in North America now, HRC USA will send its people to Aston Martin. This shows Honda’s increasing involvement in global programs.
Watanabe talked about HRC USA and said, “We have set up a new organization to do F1 activities, which is very important. Until now, we have been working on projects. We gather people and money, and when the project ends, we stop. But now, we will take responsibility for the racing company’s activities.”
He also mentioned that being a company means they have a budget for future technologies like eco-friendly fuels and better motors and batteries.
Also read: Honda vs. Toyota: An Experienced Mechanic’s Perspective
