Image via @redbullracing
Honda to remain in F1 beyond the 2020 championship
Honda has put an end to speculation about its future, announcing the manufacturer will continue with Red Bull and Toro Rosso in 2021.
Image via @redbullracing
Honda will continue to power Red Bull and Toro Rosso through to the end of the 2021 season after F1’s powers-that-be opted not to change the power unit’s specs.
Honda weighs up cost versus success
With three wins on the board this season, Honda power finally got it right with Red Bull Racing after years of misery with McLaren.
But, it cost the Japanese manufacturer millions to do.
With Forbes recently estimating that it costs $1.4 billion to develop a championship-winning engine, Honda admitted it was not sure if it would remain in Formula 1.
Although the sport’s powers-that-pay have agreed a budget cap that will come into effect in two years, the development and production of the 1.6-liter V6 turbo engines was not included.
“We have started to calculate how much it will cost with the future regulations,” Honda’s F1 managing director Masashi Yamamoto told Motorsport.com.
“We have noticed that it’s very tough for all the car manufacturers at the moment, because of the environment change for electrification. So, we are summing up the development cost and having discussions internally.
“It is true that the cost is the biggest issue. Winning is the first priority. Once we decide to participate, we just try to win.
“It’s positive to have good results. But more important thing is a balance with the cost. We have to put lots of budget to accelerate our development to catch up the top runners.”
Honda commit until the end of 2021
The good news for Red Bull, and star driver Max Verstappen, is that Honda has obviously decided that the price is right.
Having returned to F1 in 2015 with McLaren, where the best result was a trio of P6s over the course of three seasons, Honda’s first year with Red Bull has already yielded success.
Verstappen won the Austria, German and Brazilian races while also taking two pole positions.
As such Red Bull-Honda is just 80 points behind Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship.
Honda power has also paid dividends for Red Bull’s junior team, Toro Rosso.
Daniil Kvyat bagged the team’s second career podium in Germany before Pierre Gasly added a third in Brazil. Toro Rosso’s only previous podium was back in 2008.
Honda have therefore decided to remain in Formula 1.
Red Bull announced ahead of the season-ending Abu Dhabi GP that both the senior and junior team will continue with the Japanese manufacturer in 2021.
Red Bull motorsport advisor Dr Helmut Marko described it as “a great relief for us” in an interview with ServusTV.
Stable engine rules played a role
Honda’s resolve to continue in Formula 1 into 2021 is in part down to the sport opting to continue with the existing 1.6-litre V6 turbo hybrids.
The rule makers had initially wanted to make changes to the power unit, including dropping the MGU-H from the mix.
However, after months of arguments, they ultimately compromised considering that the four engine manufacturers have already spent millions developing the current V6s.
When the FIA released the 2021 regulations last month, head of single-seaters Nikolas Tombazis announced the decision.
Tombazi said today’s V6s are “the most efficient engines on the planet in terms of conversion of the energy that goes into them to power at the rear wheels, and we felt changing that would be a step backwards.”
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