Honda contacted by ‘multiple F1 teams’ over 2026 engine

Honda says it has already been contacted by multiple Formula 1 teams regarding a partnership when new engine regulations are introduced in 2026.

Honda was one of six power unit manufacturers revealed as having registered for the new regulations by the FIA earlier this month.

The Japanese firm officially exited Formula 1 after 2021 but retained a technical partnership with Red Bull Racing – and its Red Bull Powertrains division – for 2022.

That collaboration has been retained, with Honda logos also returning to both Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri cars, and will continue through 2025, with the power unit officially labelled the Honda-RBPT.

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Remaining as Red Bull’s partner is no longer on the cards post-2025 after the company announced earlier this month that it will work with returning manufacturer Ford from 2026.

Speaking during a Honda press conference in Japan on Monday, Honda Racing Corporation President Koji Watanabe explained the marque’s current stance.

“Formula 1 is greatly shifting towards electrification,” he said. “Carbon neutrality is our corporate-wide target at Honda, so we think Formula 1’s future direction is in line with our target – that’s why we decided to register as a power unit [manufacturer].

“We’re curious about where Formula 1 is going – being the top racing category – and how that is going to look with more electrification.

“That’s why we have decided to register as a PU manufacturer, and after we made the registration we have been contacted by multiple Formula 1 teams.

“For the time being we would like to keep a close eye on where Formula 1 is going and see how things go – for now, we don’t have any concrete decisions on whether we’ll go back to joining Formula 1.

“[But] from the perspective of technological developments, we think that being part of Formula 1 is going to help us with the technological developments.”