Honda not interested in the 2026 engine project
As Formula 1 increasingly focuses on the new 2026 engine regulations, Honda asserts that it does not want to be involved in this future project.
It is now established since last season, Honda will leave Formula 1 at the end of the 2022 season. This is the second departure of the Japanese brand as an engine supplier. However, this time, Honda engines will still be used until 2022, at least, by Red Bull. Engineers from the land of the rising sun will keep an eye on their power unit until their Austrian partner develops its own engines starting from 2023.
Honda will, however, continue its involvement alongside Red Bull until 2026. This agreement between the two parties, combined with the fact that the Japanese manufacturer is aware of what is happening in terms of engines in five years, has fueled rumors that Honda will return in the near future.
Koji Watanabe, General Manager of Brand and Communications Operations at Honda, is categorical on the subject: the manufacturer has no plans to develop any projects in F1 in the future. There is no possibility of any specific cooperation regarding the next generation of power units. All our engineers will be involved in the launch of Red Bull Powertrains so that they can start their engine department smoothly. But then, we won’t be able to work on the 2026 project even if requested, we have no intention to and anyway, nothing has been asked of us.
