Since January 1st Honda is no longer active in Formula 1. Part of the staff has now returned to Japan. Next season the engines will remain active in Formula 1 under the name Red Bull Powertrains, just like Honda protégé Yuki Tsunoda.

Inconsistency

Tsunoda is proving to be a standout on and around the track. The diminutive Japanese driver can be verbally abusive and can be very fast on the track at times. In his first year in Formula 1, his biggest problem was inconsistency; he could be in the middle of the pack one week and making mistakes the next.

Masashi Yamamoto, director of motorsport at Honda, still sees a lot of potential in Tsunoda, who will also be supported by the car brand in the future. In an interview with the Japanese Autosportweb he tells that the Grand Prix in Hungary was the turning point for Tsunoda. "I told (Tsunoda) that I wanted him to do the same as in Hungary for all 23 races," Yamamoto says.

End of an adventure

For Yamamoto, his adventure in Formula 1 has come to an end. After the Abu Dhabi race, he returned to England to collect his gear, then flew to Japan. There he spent fourteen days in a quarantine hotel. "I have learned a lot in six years of Formula One," says Yamamoto. "All those experiences belong not only to me, but also to Honda. In the coming time I'm going to report everything."