Red Bull enters last year with Honda: 'They played a key role in our success'

The partnership between Red Bull Racing and Honda has been very successful, with four drivers' titles and two constructors' titles as they head into their final year together, in 2025: Red Bull will move on to Ford, while Honda will join forces with Aston Martin. Christian Horner stressed how important Honda's role has been in the success of the Austrian F1 team.

Speaking at the final Grand Prix weekend of the year in Abu Dhabi, Horner looked back on the successes achieved with the Japanese engine manufacturer. "Honda has done a great job for us again this year," he said in conversation with the media present, including GPblog. "Honda have done a great job for us again this year and so they've been a key part of our success with the wins and the Drivers World Championship that we've managed to defend. I congratulate and thank them for their contribution."

The 51-year-old Briton also looks ahead to the year ahead, the last year of the partnership with the Japanese supplier. "Whilst the engines are homologated, performance, reliability remain crucial and the commitment from Honda, particularly as we go into the last year of our relationship with Honda Motor Company before introducing our own engine with Ford in 2026, next year I think all parties are determined to continue what has been an incredibly successful partnership," the Red Bull team boss concluded.

The partnership between Honda and Red Bull kicked off in 2018, when initially only Toro Rosso ran the Japanese engines for that year. In 2019, Red Bull also switched to Honda power units. That year, Max Verstappen won three races. In 2020, the Dutchman consistently made it to the podium, and 2021 saw the biggest step, aiding Verstappen to win his first world title.