Honda, Red Bull forge new partnership in Red Bull Powertrains

In accordance with Honda’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality, the company will withdraw from Formula 1 as Red Bull’s engine supplier, concluding its F1 endeavors at the end of this year’s season.

Honda will, however, remain as Red Bull’s partner through a variety of motorsport activities.

“I’m glad that we have reached an agreement with Red Bull Group covering all the details of the IP rights for the F1 Power Unit and in this way, Honda can still contribute to the motor racing world. We are now working hard to strengthen HRC’s structure so that it can ensure our fans will be able to continue to enjoy Honda’s role in all types of motorsport,” commented Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Chief Officer for Brand and Communication Operations Koji Watanabe.

According to a recent press release, the Japanese automotive brand has agreed to continue developing F1 powertrain units for Red Bull through a newly formed company: Red Bull Powertrains.

Under the agreement, Honda will give Red Bull Powertrains the right to use the carmaker’s intellectual property rights relating to the power unit.

In addition, Honda will continue to support Red Bull in building the 2022 Formula 1 power unit while providing trackside and race operation support from Japan throughout the 2022 season.

Come 2023, Red Bull Powertrains will take responsibility for all manufacturing and servicing of Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri’s engines.

Furthermore, employees of Honda Racing Development UK (Milton Keynes) will become employees of Red Bull Powertrains.

“Red Bull’s collaboration with Honda has been enormously successful and while our relationship in Formula 1 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 Bull 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,” said Red Bull Racing Honda CEO and Team Principal Christian Horner.

Horner adds, “equally as exciting is the news that our collaboration with Honda will extend to a variety of motorsport activities, from driver development to other racing disciplines and even across the wider sporting world. This stretch of Honda’s Formula 1 voyage is coming to an end but together we are embarking on a new and fascinating journey.”

Red Bull and Honda will continue to work together on their respective young driver programs — the Red Bull Junior Team and Honda Formula Dream Project — to further promote the growth of motorsport in Japan.

The two brands will also continue their partnership in marketing and branding initiatives.

Photos from Formula 1

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