It was only in 2021 when Honda decided to leave Formula 1, handing over its know-how to Red Bull and assisting in the delicate transition that would turn the team into a full-fledged engine manufacturer. This transition period lasted four years, culminating in the creation of the first power unit fully developed in Milton Keynes: the 2026 power unit.
Red Bull continued to use that technology, with annual updates and improvements, until the end of the 2025 season. So, technically, Honda’s return to F1 cannot be called a true comeback. However, it is a comeback if we consider the push required from its technical department, in terms of resources and innovations demanded.
Honda’s rethink highlights the importance of the 2026 regulations
But why announce a withdrawal only to reverse the decision just a few months later at an executive level? It’s simple. Until 2020–2021, car manufacturers were unsure about the future direction of their products. Fully electric? Hybrid? What type of hybrid? Or why not hydrogen? After the first FIA meeting to decide the roadmap from 2026 onwards, manufacturers realized they were laying the groundwork for building innovative technology that would not only make F1 more appealing but also make the future of car manufacturing concrete, sustainable, and arguably feasible.
Watanabe confirms Honda’s vision
Koji Watanabe, President of Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), summarized it during a speech a few months ahead of the 2026 season: “I think Honda probably cannot live without F1. Specifically considering the technology, the upcoming changes to the power unit regulations were a major factor in Honda’s decision to return as an active participant in this sport.”
“The 2026 regulations encourage a 50:50 power split between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor, with the latter nearly tripling in power, from the current 120 kW to 350 kW. Add to this the requirement to use highly sustainable fuels, and it aligns perfectly with Honda’s philosophy for future propulsion systems. Motorsport represents the ultimate stage to perfect our technology, and it is extremely important for Honda’s future,” Watanabe concluded, according to ‘GpBlog.com’.
This is why the Japanese manufacturer has ‘returned,’ and it is also why we will see the highest number of manufacturers competing in the F1 World Championship in the last twenty years: Ferrari, Mercedes, Honda (with Aston Martin), Audi, Red Bull (partnership with Ford), and Cadillac (starting in 2027) will go head-to-head for the title while advancing projects that could become part of our daily lives in the years to come.
With record manufacturer involvement, 2026 could mark a golden era for both racing spectacle and technological innovation.
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