60 years later: Honda returns to the track with the legendary RA272 driven by Tsunoda
To celebrate the 60th anniversary of Honda’s first ever Formula 1 victory, Yuki Tsunoda will take the wheel of the historic 1965 RA272 in a special demonstration at the Mexican Grand Prix.
The event, scheduled for October 26, pays tribute to Richie Ginther’s triumph and to Japan’s long-standing motorsport tradition. Tsunoda, the only Japanese driver on today’s Formula 1 grid and a face closely tied to Honda, will play a symbolic role that connects past, present and future, looking ahead to the new Honda-Aston Martin era set to begin in 2026.
Honda and the Mexican Grand Prix
The Mexican Grand Prix has always been one of Honda’s most significant events, with five victories over the years, starting with that first success in 1965. This year’s race will be held on October 26, and to honor that milestone, Honda will bring back the winning car with Yuki Tsunoda behind the wheel.
The Japanese driver will step into the Honda RA272 from 1965 for a demonstration run, a rare occasion for fans of Japanese racing history. Tsunoda was the natural choice not only because he is the only Japanese Formula 1 driver this season, but also because every single one of his F1 points has been scored in Honda-powered cars with AlphaTauri, Red Bull and Racing Bulls. In addition, his immense popularity in Japan was clear at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, where he was surrounded by adoring fans.
The RA272 and Honda’s anniversary
The RA272 is a world apart from today’s aerodynamically complex Formula 1 machines. Simple, cylindrical and elegant, it was powered by a 1.5-liter V12 engine capable of revving its tiny pistons to 14,000 rpm, making it the most powerful contender on the grid at the time.
At the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix, Californian driver Richie Ginther used Honda’s power to overtake Jim Clark and Dan Gurney at the start and managed to hold them off until the finish line. That victory was not only Honda’s first in Formula 1, but also the first for any Japanese car manufacturer.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of Honda’s presence in Formula 1, during which its engines have powered some of the fastest racing cars in history. Among the most notable examples are the McLaren MP4/6 driven by Ayrton Senna to the 1991 championship and the Red Bull RB20 of Max Verstappen, dominant in the 2024 season.
Turning 60 has a special cultural meaning in Japan. Known as kanreki, it is both a time to reflect on the past and to look ahead to the future. For the 2026 Formula 1 season, Honda will supply engines to the Aston Martin team, which means Yuki Tsunoda will no longer be an official Honda driver. This demonstration therefore serves as a unique gift for everyone: racing history enthusiasts, Honda employees, fans around the world, and the man who represents Japan at the highest level of motorsport.
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