[ad_1]
Honda’s agreement with defending champion Red Bull ends in 2025; The Japanese manufacturer has registered to stay in the sport beyond the main regulation changes in 2026; watch pre-season testing live on Sky Sports F1, with coverage starting at 6.50am from Thursday
Last updated: 20/02/23 11:07
Honda engines have taken Red Bull to two consecutive drivers’ titles
Several teams have approached Honda about a partnership when Formula 1’s new engine era begins in 2026 but no decision has been made on future involvement, the Japanese manufacturer said.
Honda has an agreement to build engines in Japan for champion drivers and constructors Red Bull and its sister team AlphaTauri but that will end in 2025.
Red Bull has set up its own powertrain company in Milton Keynes and this month announced a new partnership with Ford from 2026.
Honda, which officially withdrew from F1 after pipping Red Bull double world champion Max Verstappen to his first title in 2021, has signed up to be one of six power unit suppliers from 2026-30.
“After we registered, we have been contacted by several Formula 1 teams,” Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe told reporters in a virtual briefing from the team’s Sakura headquarters on Monday.
Please use Chrome browser for more accessible video player
Take a look back at how world champion Max Verstappen broke the record for most race wins in a season in 2022
“At the moment, we want to observe where Formula 1 is going and see how it goes,” he said.
“At the moment, we don’t have a concrete decision whether we will return to Formula 1 or not.
“But … we think being part of Formula 1 will help us develop technology. So that’s where we are.”
Watanabe said that F1’s future direction is in line with Honda’s own carbon neutrality and increased electrification targets.
Please use Chrome browser for more accessible video player
F1 kicks and turns are back. Enjoy the ride live on Sky Sports
“That’s why we decided to register as a power unit manufacturer,” he said. “We are interested to see where Formula One is going and how it will look with more electrification.”
The next-generation F1 engine will retain the high-revving 1.6-liter V6 engine but with more electric power and 100 percent sustainable fuel. The sport also has a target of becoming carbon neutral by 2030.
The power unit in Red Bull this year will be added the name of the Japanese car manufacturer to change from RBPT to Honda RBPT.
Tetsushi Kakuda, F1 project leader and executive engineer, told reporters that the company has been working to solve reliability problems for 2023.
Please use Chrome browser for more accessible video player
Verstappen and Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez said that improving on last year’s performance will be difficult, but they must continue to push to stay at the top this year.
Verstappen won 15 of 22 races last season, and Red Bull 17 overall, but the Dutchman retired from two of the first three rounds.
“Last year I believe all power unit manufacturers have prioritized performance in development, and so have we,” said Kakuda. “We are making every effort to recover the performance lost due to the E10 fuel provided by the regulatory change.
“But as a result the internal load on the engine increased compared to the previous year and the reliability was very compromised. As a result some problems appeared in the 2022 season.”
He said that Honda has optimized control and energy management and is working with suppliers to improve the precision of power unit parts and units.
[ad_2]
Source link