This season will also supply to Oracle Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri.
Honda Racing (HRC), a subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., which is engaged in two-wheel and four-wheel racing activities, held a press briefing called “HRC Sakura F1 2023 Press Briefing” on February 20, and Alpha Tauri He explained about F1 activities that provide technical support to RBPT (Red Bull Power Trains), which supplies power units to .
As has already been clarified in the entry list, last season RBPT and Honda were not included in the registered name of the power unit manufacturer, but this season, “Honda RBPT (Honda RBPT)”. And Honda’s company name will be entered, and it will be a race with a name that Honda’s involvement has become stronger.
Koji Watanabe, President and CEO of Honda Racing, said, “After registering as a power unit manufacturer under the 2014 regulations, we have been contacted by several F1 teams. I would like to see it, but I haven’t come to the conclusion that I will re-enter the race.” At the moment, there is no conclusion that he will re-enter the race, but he will clarify the fact that discussions with the F1 team have been held and will participate in some form. He indicated that he was looking for possibilities.
Honda RBPT H001 supplied to Oracle Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri through RBPT
Honda Racing Co., Ltd. President Koji Watanabe
Yasuharu Watanabe, President and CEO of Honda Racing, said, “In April 2022, we integrated our two- and four-wheeled motorsports activities and made a start as a new HRC. We would like to build a strong foundation so that we can achieve interoperability and efficiency of existing technologies and ensure that Honda’s DNA of motorsports activities can be inherited.”
In addition, “Today, I would like to explain HRC’s efforts with a focus on F1. In the 2022 season, HRC will supply power units to RBPT as a partner of Red Bull, and two teams of Oracle Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri. He provided support to the team and Oracle Red Bull Racing won two titles.”
“We will continue to support both teams in 2023, and both teams’ machines have the Honda and HRC logos, and Honda is now included in the power unit manufacturer’s name. The power unit will be Honda RBPT H001 for 23 years. We are happy to have the Honda name on our team, and we will do our best to support both teams with the Honda brand, so please continue to support us this season.”
Mr. Yasuaki Asaki, the driving force who realized the great counterattack of the 4th Honda F1, will retire from Honda at the end of April.
Mr. Yasuaki Asaki, Managing Director, Automobile Racing Development Department, Honda Racing Co., Ltd.
Next, Mr. Yasuaki Asaki, Managing Director, Automobile Race Development Department, Honda Racing, who is known as the driving force behind the rapid improvement in the results in the second half of the 4th season of Honda F1, gave an explanation. At the beginning, Mr. Asaki announced that he will retire from his current position at the end of March and will retire from Honda at the end of April.
Developed to improve reliability for 2023 season, preparations for pre-season tests are already complete
Honda Racing Co., Ltd. Executive Chief Engineer F1 Project LPL (General Manager) Tetsushi Tsunoda
Honda Racing Executive Chief Engineer F1 Project LPL (general manager) Tetsushi Tsunoda explained HRC’s F1 entry system for this season.
Mr. Tsunoda’s comment
He has been involved in the 3rd F1 and 4th F1 through participation in CART. What was important in the 2022 F1 power unit competition was the development until the homologation freeze in February (Author’s note: F1 power unit development was frozen before the opening of 2022, and reliability Development has been frozen until the end of 2025, except for the parts related to improvement, and the timing of the frozen specifications was February last year).
From the 2021 season to homologation, we have been developing with full power and supplying the power unit to RBPT. According to Honda’s policy, engineers shifted to carbon-neutral development, but there were still enough personnel to operate without problems, and although there were some troubles, it was able to operate stably. I am happy that I was able to provide accurate support from the mission room of HRC Sakura (HRC’s headquarters) and that I was able to contribute to Oracle Red Bull Racing winning the title.
Mr. Tsunoda’s title
career history
For 2023, we can’t increase the output, but we have taken various measures to improve reliability. (Before the homologation freeze), we had been developing with performance as the priority, but by compensating for the part that was lowered by the introduction of E10 fuel, the load inside the engine had increased. Some of those issues surfaced during the season, so we’ve been working on improving them for this season.
In addition, by deepening our understanding of the power unit, we are also working on control and energy management, deploying MGU-K, improving assembly accuracy, etc. We are already preparing for the pre-season test scheduled to start this week. organized. I would like to do my best to provide technical support to RBPT.
HRC President Watanabe says he has been contacted by several F1 teams
From the left, Honda Racing Co., Ltd. Executive Chief Engineer F1 Project LPL (General Manager) Tetsushi Tsunoda, Honda Racing Co., Ltd. President Koji Watanabe, Honda Racing Co., Ltd. Managing Director Automobile Race Development Department Manager Yasuaki Asaki
After the presentations by the three speakers, there was a Q&A session with reporters.
――The FIA has registered Honda as one of F1’s power unit suppliers from 2026. Is Honda developing engines for the 2026 rules? Also, do you have plans to participate in F1 in 2026? If so, is it a power unit supplier, a works team, or what kind of position?
Mr. Watanabe:From 2026 onwards, F1 will make a major shift towards electrification. It is consistent with Honda’s direction of carbon neutrality. That’s why we registered as a power unit manufacturer. It is to see how F1 will move in the future and how the whole race will turn out.
After registering as a power unit manufacturer, we have been contacted by several F1 teams. I would like to see how F1 will move next time, but I have not reached the conclusion of re-entering the race.
Regarding whether we are developing a power unit, we are continuing to develop what will live as Honda’s technology in the F1 rules from 2026.
――Why is Honda in the logo of the machine?
Mr. Watanabe:As for the logo, starting with the 2022 Japanese GP, Honda will be on the side and the HRC logo will be on the nose, and it will be the same this year. HRC is providing technical support to both teams, and as a symbol of their bond, the Honda logo is included.
――You explained that HRC’s development resources were allocated to carbon-neutral development.
Mr. Tsunoda:We have allocated resources for carbon neutrality, but we have the necessary resources for the operation of the power unit. The remaining members are also developing new technologies.
――Mr. Asaki, who is retiring from racing, I think Honda is at a turning point, not only in racing but also as a company. Is there anything you would like to say to your juniors?
Mr. Asaki:I have said that racing is Honda’s DNA, and I want Honda to open up new worlds with the confidence that they have become the best in the world. I want you to show that there are things that only engineers who have overcome hardships can understand, and that is what makes us different from other companies. I have high hopes for his juniors.
――Rival manufacturers are said to be leveraging reliability improvements in their power units for 2023 to improve performance, but what about HRC?
Mr. Tsunoda:Increasing reliability does not increase the maximum output of the power unit, and it is not permitted to increase the maximum output. However, it is possible to make a difference in how to use it while there is a limit to the number of uses by increasing reliability.
――Red Bull has announced that it will partner with Ford from 2026. I think some fans are worried, but do you have a message?
Mr. Watanabe:We were informed in advance that Red Bull would partner with Ford from 2026. However, until 2025, both companies have a strong relationship of trust and aim for the championship. I’m not in a position to say anything about Red Bull partnering with Ford, but there are various cooperative relationships with Red Bull, so I would like to continue to do so.
――Why did the talk with Red Bull break and fail?
Mr. Watanabe:I don’t think I failed. He has had a lot of communication with Red Bull and has a lot of different stories. As a result, we mutually decided not to do anything together after 2026. Until 2025, the relationship will continue as before.
――Christian Horner (Oracle Red Bull Racing Team Principal) said it was too complicated to continue with Honda. What is Honda’s view on that?
Mr. Watanabe:I have been in close contact with Red Bull on a regular basis and have had various discussions. Since it is a form of judgment by both companies in that, there is nothing more to talk about.