Honda Powers To Double F1 Deal
Formula 1 racing teams Scuderia AlphaTauri and Oracle Red Bull Racing have announced extended partnerships with Japanese-based motor racing machine manufacturers Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) which will see the teams continue to use its power units.
The deal will extend until the end of the 2022 F1 season.
The power units, that both teams have been using up until this point in the season, are manufactured in collaboration with Red Bull Powertrains and HRC.
As part of the strengthening of the partnerships the Honda logo will now be displayed on Scuderia AlphaTauri’s AT03 and Oracle Red Bull Racing’s RB18 cars from the Formula One Honda Japanese Grand Prix 2022 onwards.
“Our combined goal is to continue to deliver dominant engines and achieve the most success possible in the following three years.“
CHRISTIAN HORNER, RED BULL RACING
Red Bull Racing driver Sergio Pérez will also take on an ambassador role for the driving academy of Honda Racing School (HRS). Pérez will begin his role with a lecture session for HRS students in November 2022.
Franz Tost, Team Principal, Scuderia AlphaTauri, said, “Over the years we have developed an amazing working relationship with Honda and it’s great to be continuing to strengthen this with a variety of activities, including displaying the iconic logo on the car once again, starting from the Japanese Grand Prix.
“We are very thankful for the hard work from Honda during our time together, allowing us to achieve several podiums as well as Pierre’s race win in Monza, and we hope that this success will continue into the future.”
Although the Japanese marque officially left F1 at the end of 2021, having powered Max Verstappen to his maiden title with Red Bull, Honda still have a presence in the sport. In August it extended it’s support deal with Red Bull Powertrains and has admitted an interest in the new-for-2026 power unit regulations.
Christian Horner, Team Principal and CEO, Oracle Red Bull Racing, commented, “Honda has invested significantly in hybrid technology over the course of our partnership. This has ensured the supply of competitive power units to both teams, for which we are very grateful.
“Our combined goal is to continue to deliver dominant engines and achieve the most success possible in the following three years. To mark this, we look forward to welcoming the Honda logo back on to the car from Suzuka onwards.”
Koji Watanabe, Head of Corporate Communications Supervisory Unit, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and President of Honda Racing Corporation, added, “The HRC logo on the nose and Honda logo on the side of the race machines of both teams represent the strong ties between Honda and Red Bull Group. Through the technical support provided by HRC, Honda will fully support the challenges those machines take on to become the ‘fastest in the world.’
“We are very pleased that these machines will be unveiled at the F1 Japanese Grand Prix, where Honda serves as the title sponsor. Please root for the two Red Bull Group teams which compete with power units loaded with Honda technologies.” The F1 Honda Japanese Grand Prix race takes place on Sunday 9th October at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan.
