Honda could join forces with Red Bull's F1 rivals when new Ford deal begins

09 February 2023 , 18:34

962     0

Honda's partnership with Red Bull ends after the 2025 season (Image: Getty Images)

Honda have reportedly made contact with McLaren over a possible resurrection of their previous Formula 1 partnership.

The Japanese carmaker currently has an agreement with Red Bull which has yielded great success in the last two years. But that deal will come to an end after the 2025 season, at which point the team's new powertrains division will take over, with help from new partners Ford.

Even though all that is now confirmed, Honda still signed up to the 2026 engine regulations with the FIA. That suggests the automotive giant plans to continue in F1 with another team after their Red Bull partnership comes to an end.

Honda have a long history in the sport, and some of it was written with McLaren. The team was using engines made by the Japanese firm in the last 1980s and early '90s, when Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost were at the peak of their powers.

Their second link-up, between 2015 and 2017, was not so successful. The power units did not perform well and there were also reliability problems – and the partnership was ended earlier than planned as Honda joined up with Red Bull.

Sebastian Vettel warns of looming F1 ban and is "very worried about the future"

Despite that sour experience, it appears the two parties may be open to having a third crack at a partnership. According to The Race, there has been contact between the F1 team and the carmaker over a potential reunion from 2026.

McLaren currently use Mercedes engines, but could be open to a Honda reunion (Getty Images,)

McLaren have been racing with Mercedes engines since 2021, after another brief stint under Renault power. Their other options from 2026 would theoretically include Red Bull Ford, Audi, Ferrari and Honda – which make up the six constructors which have signed up with the FIA.

Just because Honda are on that list, it does not mean they are committed to remaining in F1. All it indicates for certain is that the top brass in Tokyo are open to the idea of continuing in the sport in a new era in which the engines and fuel will be more sustainable.

McLaren is one of the few potential options for the carmaker on the current grid, with Williams and Aston Martin other possible options. But, for now, chief executive Zak Brown insists he is "very happy with Mercedes" and isn't "spending too much time yet thinking about 2026 and beyond".

Daniel Moxon