Formula 1: Red Bull and Honda collaboration to continue despite withdrawal

Following the Japanese manufacturer’s departure from Formula 1 at the end of the 2021 season, questions were raised about how Red Bull will sort their engine operation for the future.

Announced today, Honda will support Red Bull in the building and operation of engines, with the Milton Keynes outfit gaining the intellectual property rights for the continued use of the power units – a deal that will run its course until the end of 2023.

Honda will be a closely supporting Red Bull for the 2022 season.

Away from Formula 1, the two organisations will continue to work together on future projects.

Red Bull have said: “The diversification agreement will see the Red Bull group of companies and Honda work together on a variety of motorsport activities, encompassing the transition of power unit development from Honda to Red Bull Powertrains, young driver development, marketing and branding initiatives, as well as competitive activity across a range of motorsport disciplines.

“In F1, Red Bull Powertrains will have the right to use Honda IP relating to the Power Unit from 2022.

“Whilst Honda will support Red Bull Powertrains through the assembly of power units, the provision of trackside engineering support and race operation assistance in 2022, from 2023, RBPT will take responsibility for all manufacturing and servicing of Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri’s engines.”

That is not all – the Red Bull junior team and the Honda Formula Dream Project will continue their partnership to find young Japanese drivers, and create their path to Formula 1.

Red Bull boss Christian Horner has not disguised how valuable Honda’s support in 2022 will be.

“Red Bull’s collaboration with Honda has been enormously successful and while our relationship in F1 is changing, neither of us wish for that to be the end of the story.

“We are very pleased that our ambitious and exciting Red Bill Powertrains project will be strongly supported by Honda, technically and operationally, in 2022, and this will help ensure that Red Bull’s transition to the status of chassis and power unit manufacturer is seamless.”