Ten years after what was arguably its greatest humiliation in Formula 1, Honda comes full circle at the Suzuka Circuit as a works partner of Red Bull
Even though Red Bull’s start to the 2025 Formula One season did not go as planned, the team is celebrating the successful partnership with Honda at this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka before the two teams go their separate ways.
To mark the 60th anniversary of Honda’s first Grand Prix victory – clinched by Richie Ginther at the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix – the Red Bull RB21 features a unique special livery in Japan’s red and white. And with Yuki Tsunoda, the manufacturer now also has a local driver in one of the cockpits.
With the upcoming switch to Aston Martin and major changes to the engine rules from 2026, not only will Honda’s connection to Red Bull come to an end, but also the “path of redemption” in the hybrid era – from the debacle with McLaren to two constructors’ championships with Red Bull and four drivers’ titles with Max Verstappen.
Honda returned to Formula One as a manufacturer in 2015 – a year after the start of the hybrid era, but before they were really ready. And that made itself felt: the much-heralded comeback with McLaren turned out to be a complete disaster – both technically and culturally.
Honda came up with an extremely ambitious, very compact power unit, the so-called size-zero concept. However, this caused numerous problems, both in terms of power delivery and reliability, forcing a complete redesign of the engine for the following years.
Alonso’s bitter radio message marks Honda’s low point
The low point came at the 2015 Japanese Grand Prix: when Max Verstappen effortlessly overtook Fernando Alonso on the straight, the latter radioed in frustration: “GP2 engine”. This statement damaged the relationship between McLaren and Honda permanently. Despite some progress, the partnership was terminated at the end of 2017.
“From 2015 to 2017, it was a very difficult time for both Honda and the team,” said Koji Watanabe, President of Honda’s HRC sports department, recalling Alonso’s famous radio message. ‘It was a particularly frustrating period in our history. But I think we grew from it.’
Red Bull takes a risk with Honda
While McLaren was looking elsewhere, Red Bull was looking for a new works partner as it became increasingly dissatisfied with Renault. Given Honda’s initial problems, Red Bull’s decision to switch to Honda in 2018, initially with Toro Rosso and then with the main team in 2019, was considered a daring experiment.
“We have come to the conclusion that Honda is making progress in terms of performance and reliability. Technically, this was the right step,” explained Red Bull team principal Christian Horner at the time.
He emphasized the “healthy working relationship” that Red Bull had built with Honda – something McLaren had been unable to achieve. Honda integrated itself more closely into the Red Bull team in Milton Keynes, while also inviting key personnel to Sakura in Japan.
Initial successes were not long in coming
The first proof of the fruits of this collaboration came at the 2019 season opener, when Verstappen finished third in Australia – behind the dominant Mercedes and after a thrilling duel with Ferraris Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc. A few months later, in Austria, came a historic victory: Honda’s first Grand Prix triumph since the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix with Jenson Button.
That Verstappen played a crucial role in deepening the partnership: “My strongest memory is of him pointing to the Honda logo on the podium in Austria. I was standing right below him, and that was a very special moment. He often thanks Honda publicly, which is very motivating for all employees.”
But despite these successes, Honda surprisingly announced its withdrawal from Formula 1 after the 2021 season at the end of 2020 – officially for cost reasons and in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was only after intensive discussions that Honda remained on board under the HRC label. This was rewarded with two constructors’ world championship titles in 2022 and 2023, even though the engines were running under the name Red Bull Powertrains.
A Honda dream comes true after all
One of Honda’s last dreams was to get a driver from the in-house “Formula Dream” program into a top cockpit – a goal that was on the verge of failure. But Red Bull’s decision to swap Liam Lawson for Yuki Tsunoda means the Japanese driver will now get his big chance, albeit in the difficult RB21.
The driver change just in time for the home race in Suzuka – with a special Honda livery – increases the pressure on Tsunoda, but also boosts the appeal for Honda, which has reportedly increased its financial commitment again.
“At Honda, our goal is to develop drivers, both male and female, who can compete on the international stage,” said Watanabe. ”I’m really happy that Yuki is making his debut in this special livery to mark the 60th anniversary of our Formula 1 victory. I hope for a strong result.”
Honda’s U-turn in Formula 1 ultimately came too late to save the Red Bull partnership. Instead, an ambitious project with Aston Martin is now on the cards. But ten years after the dreaded “GP2” humiliation, the Japanese company can proudly say: We are back – and stronger than ever.
