Honda absent from key F1 meeting: 'No talk of returning'

In Austria some of Honda' s top men were present at the Grand Prix. Quite a coincidence in terms of timing, as that weekend also saw a meeting of the F1 Commission. The most important item on the agenda was the engine regulations for 2026. Honda themselves now say that they were not present at this meeting and state that there are currently no plans for a return to Formula 1.

On Friday 8 July, all team bosses and engine suppliers discussed future engine regulations, but Honda arrived at the Red Bull Ring only a day later. Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe told AS-Web: "We knew a meeting was planned but we were not there." According to Watanabe, Honda is no longer involved in any way in determining the future new rules in Formula 1.

Frustrations or regrets at Honda?

After a successful conclusion to last season with a world title for Max Verstappen, Honda left Formula 1. This year the RB18 will only bear the logo of the Japanese brand. So taking credit is out of the question, but there is no frustration. "Basically we ended our F1 activities last year as Honda, so in that sense there is no particular frustration," Watanabe replied. "HRC only provides technical support at the request of Red Bull and in accordance with their requirements. So there is also no frustration in the current situation, as we did not develop and produce the power unit on our own initiative, but cooperate with them at the request of Red Bull."

The Japanese deny that there is frustration now that Red Bull has started the season so well, but is there perhaps regret? "Honda considers motorsport to be very important, so it was a difficult decision for us to stop. However, as a business choice, we decided that we had to concentrate on developing carbon neutral technology, and there was nothing for it but to stop our activities in F1, which require a lot of human resources," Watanabe says. The fact remains that leaving Formula 1 was purely a business decision for Honda.

No quick return for Honda

Rumours about a very quick return of Honda to the premier class of motor racing are dismissed by the Japanese chief. "I think Formula 1 has taken a great direction in the direction of CO2 neutrality. We are following the developments in F1 with great interest, but that does not mean we are talking about an immediate return to F1. We are just going to carry out the technological development that we have decided to do, and we are not talking about a return to F1 or anything like that," Watanabe said.

Interestingly, Watanabe said earlier this week that a return to Formula One is not a closed door. He indicated to Motorsport.com that Honda would have to make up their minds within the next year and a half whether they want to return. Conclusion: Honda is not talking about an F1 return now, but maybe next year they will.