At the end of the 2021 season, the Japanese manufacturer announced that it would no longer be able to justify running an F1 program because of its focus on expanding its electric road car business Honda.
However, it leased the intellectual property of its power units to Red Bull after 2021, which went on to win the drivers’ world championship with Max Verstappen.
This allowed the company to keep its foot in the water.
This year, its continued success has led to an increase in its presence, withThe current arrangement with Red Bull lasts until the 2025 season, when the team in Milton Keynes plans to operate its own power unit.
The initial plan for Red Bull to tie up with Porsche from 2026 fell through after talks between the parties broke down, but talk of Honda returning to Formula One continued.
Red Bull, which is working on its own engine, said right away that it was open to forming a partnership with Honda, especially in regards to the increased electrical component of the F1 power unit.
With Honda’s motorsports chief announcing on Monday in Japan that the company had formally registered its interest in becoming an engine manufacturer, that concept has begun to move forward.
By the middle of November, the governing body had issued a request to all manufacturers wishing to operate power units beginning in 2026.
Koji Watanabe, president of Honda Racing, confirmed that Honda had done so, but he made it clear that this did not necessarily mean that it would enter the market in 2026.
Watanabe stated, “As HRC, we have registered as a PU manufacturer after 2026,” during the presentation of Honda’s 2023 Honda Motor Sports Activity Plan.
Additionally, the registration deadline was set for November 15. To continue this research, we have registered as a manufacturer.
As a result of Honda’s decision to register, the company now has time to consider whether to proceed with a formal return in 2026, either alone or in partnership with Red Bull.
It would have been more difficult for it to enter for 2026 at a later date if it had not registered by the November deadline, and it would not Honda been a part of any formal discussions that are currently taking place between the various manufacturers and the FIA.
Watanabe told Motorsport.com earlier this year that Honda would actively consider returning to Formula One once it was satisfied that its road car priorities had been resolved.
When he was asked what would entice Honda to return, he responded, “I think there are several factors we need to watch.”