Who is using Honda engines in F1?
Following their decision to withdraw from Formula One at the end of 2021, Honda agreed to a deal with Red Bull to continue constructing, servicing, and supplying Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri with power units from its facility in Sakura. A commercial rebranding of the Racing Point F1 Team resulted in the team’s return as Aston Martin in 2021, utilising customer Mercedes power units. In 2026, the team will begin using Honda power units as part of a works partnership with the Japanese manufacturer.The news is official, and it’s notable — Japanese manufacturer Honda will be returning to Formula 1, supplying Power Units to Aston Martin beginning in 2026! This came after the automaker “quit” Formula 1 in 2021. A new partnership and plan is in place, and it also has a name — the Aston Martin Aramco Honda Team.In May 2023, Honda confirmed its entry for 2026 and announced it would supply its hybrid power units to Aston Martin as a works partner team after seven and eight years of partnerships with two Red Bull-owned teams (Red Bull Racing (2019–2021 as full-works Honda and later 2022–2025 as Honda Red Bull Powertrains) and .Three years after announcing it was leaving Formula One to focus on next-generation automotive technology, Honda has reversed course by announcing it is partnering with Aston Martin for the 2026 season, which will see a slew of new engine regulations come into force aimed at reaching net-zero carbon emissions.The news is official, and it’s notable — Japanese manufacturer Honda will be returning to Formula 1, supplying Power Units to Aston Martin beginning in 2026! This came after the automaker “quit” Formula 1 in 2021. A new partnership and plan is in place, and it also has a name — the Aston Martin Aramco Honda Team.
Why is Honda leaving F1?
Honda announced its decision to leave F1 in October, 2020, before Verstappen’s championship season, claiming that it wanted to focus on the continuing development of sustainable technologies for roadcars. In October 2020, Honda announced they would withdraw from Formula One at the end of the 2021 season, citing their need to focus resources on next-generation road vehicle technologies to make necessary strides towards carbon neutrality.Three years after announcing it was leaving Formula One to focus on next-generation automotive technology, Honda has reversed course by announcing it is partnering with Aston Martin for the 2026 season, which will see a slew of new engine regulations come into force aimed at reaching net-zero carbon emissions.Audi made the announcement of its Formula 1 entry in 2026 at the 2022 Belgian Grand Prix. Video published on August 26, 2022. Audi made the announcement of its Formula 1 entry in 2026 at the 2022 Belgian Grand Prix.Audi are preparing to enter Formula 1 in 2026, with a major partnership now being put in place. The future Audi F1 Team have announced global financial technology company Revolut as their title partner from the 2026 season onwards.
Why did Red Bull drop Honda?
This new partnership will mark the fifth time Honda participated officially in Formula 1. Honda’s reason to leave Formula 1 was to focus on fuels and engines with more carbon neutral technologies. The newer regulations of 2026 power unit seems to attaract Honda’s attention back towards Formula 1. The company officially withdrew from the series after 2021 to focus its resources on carbon neutral technologies, although an arrangement was made for them to continue supplying the Red Bull teams until the end of 2025, with the Honda-built engines winning further titles in 2022 and 2023.But in 2023, Red Bull Powertrains formed an exciting new partnership with Ford to develop the next generation of power unit to drive Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls to the front of the pack. In 2026, Red Bull will make history as the first F1 team to go from making chassis to developing its own power unit.Since 2021, Honda stopped supplying engine units to teams but continues its relationship with F1 through power unit assembly support and race operations at circuits. The brand continues to provide RA Series Hybrid engine support to Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri (formerly Toro Rosso) teams until the end of 2025.After more than two decades, Ford is returning to Formula 1. The iconic American automaker and Red Bull Powertrains are entering into a long-term strategic technical partnership for the development of the next-gen hybrid power unit to be used from the 2026 Formula 1 season onwards.Since 2021, Honda stopped supplying engine units to teams but continues its relationship with F1 through power unit assembly support and race operations at circuits. The brand continues to provide RA Series Hybrid engine support to Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri (formerly Toro Rosso) teams until the end of 2025.