HONDA are quitting Formula One in a serious blow to the sport.
The Japanese car giant dropped the bombshell in a press conference from their Tokyo HQ yesterday (FRI) that will have F1 chiefs reeling.
Honda are set to leave AlphaTauri and Red Bull without engines in 2022Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Honda, who returned to F1 in 2015 first with McLaren, will leave at the end of the 2021 season meaning Red Bull and sister team, AlphaTauri, will need to source an engine to go racing from 2022 onwards.
However, it is Honda’s reasons for turning their backs on F1 which is the biggest concern.
As F1 does not fit in with their environmental and sustainability targets and they will focus their investment on electric vehicles.
A statement from Honda said: “As the automobile industry undergoes a once-in-one-hundred-years period of great transformation, Honda has decided to strive for the realization of carbon neutrality by 2050.
“This goal will be pursued as part of Honda’s environmental initiatives which is one of the top priorities of Honda as a mobility manufacturer.
“Toward this end, Honda needs to funnel its corporate resources in research and development into the areas of future power unit and energy technologies, including fuel cell vehicle and battery technologies, which will be the core of carbon-free technologies.
“Toward this end, Honda made the decision to conclude its participation in F1.”
Honda say they are committed to seeing out their deal with Red Bull and AlphaTauri and will continue to financially support the current F1 engine development.
Honda has decided to strive for the realization of carbon neutrality by 2050. Toward this end, Honda made the decision to conclude its participation in F1
And sources at Red Bull say there is no panic within their Milton Keynes HQ as they now switch their attention to finding another engine supplier.
F1’s rules mean that one of the current engine markers – Mercedes, Ferrari or Renault must supply them with engines, but they will come at a cost.
Team Principal Christian Horner, admitted it now offers his team a new challenge but Red Bull are well suited to change as the only team in the modern era to win races with two manufacturers.
He said: “As a team we understand how difficult it has been for Honda Motor Company to reach the decision to step back from Formula One at the end of the 2021 season.
“The shifting focus within the automotive industry has led to Honda’s decision to re-deploy their resources and we understand and respect the reasoning behind this.
MY VIEW
By Ben Hunt
F1 bosses should be worried. Losing a big name company in Honda is a real concern as the sport is suffering an identity crisis.
In fairness, F1 have been smart to bring in cost-caps £119million as part of the new rules but now there is a wider issue.
Given the economic downturn, F1 will be hoping more companies don’t follow Honda’s lead.
The way I see it, is that F1 now has a decision to make when it comes to engines.
Is it a mix of sport and entertainment? Or does it still hanker after the idea of being a combination of sport and road-relevant technology – as it used to be?
For me, it is a simple one. Go for the sport/entertainment mix. Drive down costs by bringing back cheaper, simpler engines.
Ditch the complicated hybrids. Make them loud and exciting.
F1 has missed the boat when it comes to road-relevance battery power. Formula E has that sewn up.
The sad thing is, the engine regulations are now in place until 2026, meaning incoming F1 chairman Stefano Domenicali has a job on his hands in encouraging other brands to stay in F1 until then.
“Their decision presents obvious challenges for us as a team but we have been here before and with our strength in depth we are well prepared and equipped to respond effectively, as we have proven in the past.
“Whilst we are disappointed not to continue our partnership with Honda, we are enormously proud of our joint success, delivering five wins and 15 podiums for both Red Bull owned teams and we thank everyone at Honda for their extraordinary efforts and commitment.
“As a group, we will now take the time afforded to us to further evaluate and find the most competitive power unit solution for 2022 and beyond.”
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