Teams from the past: Honda F1 Team

Honda and Formula 1 have seen highs and lows in the last decade. The low point was the collaboration with McLaren who did not want to work well. The highlight so far came pretty soon after that: wins with Max Verstappen in the Red Bull. However, Honda has been involved in Formula 1 for much longer - albeit with intervals - and that's what we're diving into today.

Years '60s

In 1964 the car brand entered the royal class of motorsport by participating in three Grands Prix: that of Germany, Italy and America. Really good was the beginning, as none of these races were completed. But the owner wins and so the Honda F1 Team returned to the grid in 1965.

With a participation in eight races they managed to finish five and the season ended at a climax: victory in Mexico. By the way, the first year was a year of getting to know them, as they were only competing with one car. In 1965 two cars appeared at the start and in that year their base was no longer in Tokyo, but in Europe. This in order to operate closer to the sport.

In the following year, 1966, the team's presence decreased considerably. Contrary to 1965 where Honda F1 Team still competed in eight races, they participated in only three races in 1966, finishing in fourth place only in the last race in Mexico. In 1967 Honda F1 Team was again more present with a participation in nine races.

The results were quite variable in 1967 with four breakaways and two podium finishes. That year the team also participated with one car and behind the wheel was John Surtees who sent the Honda to third place in South Africa and even to first place in Italy.

In 1968 there was a kind of repetition in performance, John Surtees only managed to finish four of the twelve races that year, but with two podium finishes. He finished second in France and third in the United States. That year they also drove a second car here and there, driven by Jo Schlesser and others.

However, this driver was killed during the French Grand Prix, resulting in the withdrawal of the car brand from Formula 1. The result was years of absence as a constructor, but in 2006 they were back. At the end of 2005 Honda bought out British American Tabacco, as a result of which the team got back into factory hands.

Brief return

However, the duration of Honda as a team in Formula 1 was not long, as the team decided to withdraw in 2008. This because of disappointing results and the economic crisis that hit the world. Statistically a wise choice, because the results in 2007 and 2008 were not too good.

Over those two seasons Honda F1 Team only managed to finish seven times in the points and that is relatively low over 35 races. Certainly as a factory team. But when we look at their 'debut year' in 2006, everything started very well with a lot of finishes in the points. For example, Jenson Button managed to finish third twice, in Malaysia and Brazil. The highlight however was Hungary where he sent the Honda RA806E V8 to first place.

His teammate, Rubens Barrichello, also did well with two fourth place finishes in the season. Together the two drivers drove twenty points in 2006 and that resulted in a fourth place in the final standings of the constructors for Honda. Afterwards things went backwards with the team as described.

Success in 2009

Although the Honda F1 Team withdrew from Formula 1 at the end of 2008, the team remained active on its own. This under the name Brawn GP and with a Mercedes engine. A successful combination, because Jenson Button became first six times, second once and third twice in 2009 with the title as the ultimate result.

Also in 2009 Rubens Barrichello was his teammate and he managed to win two races and finish a lot in the points. Unfortunately it wasn't enough as the Brazilian behind Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel finished third in the championship. Nevertheless, a successful year for the old Honda team, although with a Mercedes engine.

In the background

So the adventures of Honda as a team in Formula 1 have not been extraordinarily successful, but the nuance is of course that their presence as a factory team over the years can be counted on two hands. In the background, however, Honda has been involved in the sport for much longer and more.

At the moment they are of course the supplier of engines to Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri, before that to McLaren. But also in the past they were power source supplier and with success. For example, in the period 1980 to 1999 they provided both Williams and McLaren with engines and that has led to success on several occasions.

Thus Nelson Piquet, Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost have become champions with a Honda engine at the mentioned teams. However, the last time Honda became champion as an engine supplier was in 1991. It's therefore not surprising that they are doing everything in their power to become champions with Max Verstappen this year.

However, it is doubtful whether the car brand will ever return with its own team in Formula 1, as they are rather cautious about their future in the royal class of motorsport. Of course, what can help to stay on as an engine supplier for a long time is if Max Verstappen becomes world champion.