20251207-0299
Honda says farewell to Red Bull following conclusion of 2025 season - Credit: Race Pictures
F1 News

Honda bids farewell to Red Bull as successful partnership concludes

12:36, 10 Dec
1 Comments
Honda have issued a farewell statement to Red Bull Racing following the conclusion of the 2025 season, which sees the pair split from one another amicably, after winning multiple championships together.
“We are proud to have remained at the sharp end of F1 for eight years through our strong collaboration with Red Bull Powertrains and both teams."
- Honda Racing Corporation President, Koji Watanabe
Going into the 2026 season, Red Bull Racing will be racing with an engine that they have designed themselves, in partnership with Ford. Honda, on the other hand, will switch to Aston Martin, as the Japanese manufacturer prepares it's next chapter in Formula One.
Both Red Bull and Honda have enjoyed great success together, with Max Verstappen winning four consecutive world championships from 2021-2024, and Red Bull Racing taking the Constructors' Championship in 2022 and 2023.
Speaking about the conclusion of their successful partnership, Koji Watanabe stated: “We are proud to have remained at the sharp end of F1 for eight years through our strong collaboration with Red Bull Powertrains and both teams."
Watanabe continued: "It has been a great pleasure that the technology and people of Honda contributed to the many victories and championships Oracle Red Bull Racing earned during this period. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone involved. Building on these experiences, HRC will continue driving the growth of motorsports and the advancement of Honda technological innovation.”
Max Verstappen
Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
Red Bull and Honda's partnership began in 2018, when the Japanese manufacturer supplied engines to Red Bull's second team, Toro Rosso (now Racing Bulls). At the time, the main Red Bull squad was using Renault engines. However, after enduring multiple reliability issues with the Renault engines, Red Bull ultimately decided to make the switch to Honda Power Units for 2019.
During their first season together, Red Bull and Verstappen claimed three victories at the Austrian Grand Prix, German Grand Prix and the Brazilian Grand Prix. These circuits showcased the ability of the Honda engine perfectly, from Austria's high-speed and flat-out nature, as well as wet conditions in Germany and a mix between high-speed and technical corners at Brazil. The partnership was off to a great start.
In 2021, Honda powered Verstappen to his first world championship. This was the first of four consecutive titles, with the Dutchman also challenging McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the 2025 season, finishing just two points behind Norris, who became world champion.
However, in 2026, Honda will switch to Aston Martin as they re-unite with Adrian Newey and attempt to assist Aston Martin in becoming champions. Red Bull have partnered with Ford for the upcoming new technical regulations change, and the pair will be making their own engines.

GPblog's latest F1 Paddock Update

Want to stay up-to-date with what happens in the F1 paddock? Then GPblog's F1 Paddock Update video is the perfect way to do it. Subscribe to GPblog's YouTube channel and turn on notifications to never miss the latest episodes.
loading

Loading