F1 News: Honda Hopes to Work With Max Verstappen Beyond Red Bull Contract End

Honda's tenure in Formula 1 has been marked significantly by their association with Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing. Since joining forces, the partnership has yielded three driver's championships for Verstappen and two constructors' titles for Red Bull. Their journey together began in earnest when Honda re-entered Formula 1 in 2015, initially struggling with McLaren before finding formidable success with Red Bull.

Key Takeaways

• Honda plans to end its successful Formula 1 partnership with Max Verstappen and Red Bull by 2026, shifting to a new works partnership with Aston Martin.
• Koji Watanabe, President of Honda Racing Corporation, expresses hope for future collaborations with Verstappen, highlighting their strong relationship and shared achievements, including three world championships.
• As Honda prepares for future shifts, there's speculation about Verstappen's potential move to other teams like Aston Martin or Mercedes, driven by the industry's evolving dynamics and new partnerships.

Looking ahead, Honda's roadmap includes a notable shift. The Japanese manufacturer plans to conclude its successful relationship with Red Bull and Verstappen by 2026. This will coincide with the commencement of a new chapter as Honda becomes the works partner for Aston Martin, another ambitious player in the Formula 1 arena.

This transition comes in the wake of Honda's near-exit from the sport at the end of 2021, a decision that was eventually reversed. Red Bull, in anticipation of losing Honda's support at that time, proactively established its own powertrains division within its Milton Keynes facility. This move highlights Red Bull’s commitment to self-reliance, as it gears up to develop bespoke engines tailored to the F1 regulations set to take effect in 2026.

Max Verstappen, at the heart of this narrative, remains contracted with Red Bull until the end of the 2028 season. There are whispers of retirement post-contract, which adds an intriguing layer of speculation about his future in the sport. Despite these uncertainties, the bond between Verstappen and Honda has been profoundly impactful, as articulated by Koji Watanabe, President of Honda Racing Corporation, in an interview with Motorsport.com.

"I don’t think that day will come within a very short period of time, but if both continue their Formula 1 activities in the future then we hope that we can work together again one day," Watanabe admitted

He also reflected on the relationship built on mutual trust and admiration, a sentiment that is reciprocated by the Honda workforce and Verstappen alike.

"It is a very good relationship. We trust each other and also the Honda workers love Max. We are proud to work together with Max, so we will miss him in the future.

"But we still have two years together and we promise to do our best to win another world championship together with Max and Red Bull."

Verstappen's significance to the company extends beyond his driving performance.

"He is so important. He is the number one Formula 1 driver now. Of course, the team management is important and the machinery is important as well, but the combination is crucial and one important piece of that is Max."

Watanabe fondly recalled a poignant moment that symbolized their partnership as Verstappen, pointing at the Honda logo on the podium, highlighted his appreciation for the brand.

"My biggest memory is him pointing at the Honda logo on the podium in Austria at the Red Bull Ring.

"I was there, that was a very special moment for me. I was standing under the podium and that day was so special.

"He always thinks about Honda and says ‘thank you, Honda’ a lot. He expresses his thoughts to the outside world about Honda, which is also important for all the people working for Honda."

As the Formula 1 landscape evolves, the prospect of Verstappen potentially joining another team, possibly Aston Martin to follow Honda, or even Mercedes, looms. With Lawrence Stroll at the helm of Aston Martin, efforts to form a "superteam" capable of challenging Red Bull’s supremacy are intensifying, drawing several key engineers and even approaching Red Bull’s design expert, Adrian Newey. Of course, things would have to change on the other side of the garage. With the Silverstone squad extending their relationship with Fernando Alonso, if this comes to fruition, it may be that Lance Stroll has to remove himself from his seat.