Honda uncertain about 2026 F1 return despite being approached by “multiple teams”
Honda Racing Corporation President Koji Watanabe mentioned Honda's intrigue in the future of Formula 1.
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Koji Watanabe, President of Honda Racing Corporation
Honda decided to leave Formula 1 as an engine manufacturer at the end of 2021. However, the Japanese automaker recently registered its interest to return to the sport as an engine supplier, with the advent of the new power unit regulations in 2026. Recently, Honda Racing Corporation’s President, Koji Watanabe made the auto giant’s stance clear on an eventual return. As the Japanese marquee evaluates the feasibility of a return to F1.
Watanabe spoke on the sport’s ambition of becoming carbon neutral by 2030 to be a decisive factor in the automaker’s new-found interest. He told media including RaceFans: “Formula 1’s future direction is in line with our target. That is why that we have decided to register as a manufacturer of a power unit.” Although, as of now, Honda is intrigued about F1’s future rather than an outright interest to return. He continued, “We’re curious about where Formula 1 is going.”
The HRC President was open about the feedback Honda has received from the grid for its return. Watanabe said, “After we made the registration we have been contacted by multiple Formula 1 teams.” However, he ruled out any definite judgments by the Japanese automaker for now. He continued, “We don’t have any concrete decisions on whether or not we will be going back to joining Formula 1.” Honda had officially left F1 after Max Verstappen‘s 2021 Drivers’ title.
Honda interested to see how Formula 1 progresses in the nearby future
Honda is curious about the way Formula 1 is advancing with the future of electrification. Watanabe mentioned, “Formula 1 being the top racing category, and how is that going to look with more electrification happening?” Further, the HRC President was adamant that the sport can be beneficial for the automaker in terms of technology. He said. “We think that being part of Formula 1 is going to help us with technological development.”
However, Koji Watanabe was clear that Honda has diverted a lot of its staff after its exit. Many of them went to Red Bull PowerTrains, alongside the automaker’s carbon neutrality objectives. Subsequently, Koji stated that the team running Honda Power units will have to take the mantle for development. He concluded, “the assumption now is that we don’t have to do any new development every year. So if there is any technical development the current team is going to handle it.”
Hence, Honda remains interested in the future of Formula 1. But the automaker is indecisive over its participation in the championship, even though they’ve registered as an engine manufacturer for 2026. Certainly, the Japanese giant will need to have a promising proposal to make its return to the pinnacle of motorsport. As the executives in Japan would try to prevent a disastrous return in haste, such as the infamous McLaren Honda in the turbo hybrid era.
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Armaan Agarwal
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