Honda president Koji Watanabe compares Max Verstappen to Ayrton Senna. Honda president Koji Watanabe reflects on the end of the Red Bull partnership.

Honda president Koji Watanabe was in Abu Dhabi to support Max Verstappen and Red Bull during their final race with Honda engines.

Honda says farewell to Red Bull

The Abu Dhabi GP was a special event for Red Bull. Not only was the team fighting for its fifth consecutive drivers’ title, but it was also racing for the last time with a Honda power unit. The collaboration officially ended at Yas Marina: in 2026, Honda will supply engines to Aston Martin, while Red Bull will produce its own power units with Ford’s assistance.

Koji Watanabe was present to witness the final Honda-powered Red Bull race and to support Max Verstappen, a driver he now associates with Ayrton Senna in terms of the unique bond shared with Japanese engine manufacturers.

Watanabe’s words

“We have always shared the same goal: to reach the top. I am incredibly grateful to have worked with such an exceptional driver, someone who treated our team with honesty and respect. That is something we greatly appreciate in him, and it’s also why our collaboration worked so well,” Koji Watanabe said. “Abu Dhabi was a very emotional weekend after seven years of working together. On one hand, we are excited to start new adventures, but it is, of course, also a somewhat sad moment.”

“Max is incredibly popular in Japan. People now associate him with Honda, just like in the days of Senna. He has meant a lot to our company. His attitude and trust in our engineers have always been motivating. Max will always be in our hearts,” he added.

As the partnership between Honda and Max Verstappen reaches its final chapter, the comparison to Ayrton Senna highlights the rare synergy that can exist between a driver and a manufacturer. While the F1 landscape shifts toward the 2026 technical reset, the legacy of this collaboration—defined by dominant championships and mutual respect—will remain a benchmark for the sport. For Honda, moving to Aston Martin represents a fresh start, but the “Verstappen era” has clearly left an indelible mark on the company’s racing identity, ensuring that the number 1 remains synonymous with their engineering excellence for years to come.