Red Bull reveal Honda collaboration plans from 2022
Red Bull has outlined how it will continue to work with Honda to collaborate outside of Formula 1 after the Japanese manufacturer stops its involvement at the end of 2021.
Honda has agreed to support both Red Bull and sister team AlphaTauri in 2022 when the two outfits will have the right to continue using its engine intellectual property.
This will lead to a transition phase in 2023 when Red Bull’s Powertrains division takes full responsibility for the power unit supply.
Honda will also provide trackside and race operation assistance from its base in Japan, while some of its UK-based employees will transfer to Red Bull Powertrains.
In addition, Red Bull and Honda will remain in cooperation on its Red Bull junior team and Honda Formula Dream Project to find the next fleet of young Japanese drivers after Yuki Tsuonda’s step up to F1 this year.
There will also be an “additional cooperation between the two companies dealing with various forms of motorsport and indeed other sports and marketing activities. As usual, the aim of this particular aspect of the project is to promote Honda’s wide range of mobility products to a wider audience.”
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner believed the continued support from Honda in 2022 would ensure a smooth transition for the team in becoming an engine manufacturer.
“Red Bull’s collaboration with Honda has been enormously successful and while our relationship in Formula 1 is changing, neither of us wish for that to be the end of the story,” said Horner.
“We are very pleased that our ambitious and exciting Red Bull Powertrains project will be strongly supported by Honda, technically and operationally, in 2022 and this will help ensure that Red Bull’s transition to the status of chassis and power unit manufacturer is seamless.”
Honda’s chief officer for brand and communication operations Koji Watanabe said: “I’m glad that we have reached an agreement with Red Bull Group covering all the details of the IP rights for the F1 Power Unit and in this way, Honda can still contribute to the motor racing world.
“We are now working hard to strengthen HRC’s structure, so that it can ensure our fans will be able to continue to enjoy Honda’s role in all types of motorsport.”