Honda is keeping the door to Formula 1 ajar.
Honda is keeping the door to Formula 1 ajar.
On the weekend of the Austrian GP, a strong delegation from the Japanese brand was present at the Red Bull Ring, including Toshihiro Mibe, the automaker's president and CEO.
It is believed that Red Bull is about to announce a factory partnership with Porsche starting in 2026, but before that - from 2023 to 2025 - Honda could be considering putting its name back on the team's cars.
However, others believe that a full Honda return could be in the plans for 2026, and the Austrian GP delegation did not deny this.
"F1 is the top of motorsport," said Koji Watanabe, president of Honda's HRC sports division. "Therefore, we always keep an eye on what is happening in the category."
"Internally, we haven't discussed anything regarding the 2026 season. There is no plan, but the door is not closed."
Although the 2022 "Red Bull Powertrains" engine technically will be a Honda, the company decided to officially exit F1 late last year in order to focus on more sustainable technologies.
However, with F1 about to finalize all-new rules for 2026, Honda could be interested again.
"As far as I know, it's going down the path of carbon neutrality," Watanabe told .
"Honda is going in the same direction. So we wouldn't have to deviate from that plan with F1. If we want to return in 2026, we probably need a decision within the next year and a half."