Red Bull Racing is currently in its final year of partnership with Honda, a relationship that will come to an end at the close of the season, with the Japanese manufacturer moving just a few kilometers away to Silverstone to become Aston Martin Racing’s power unit supplier.
Red Bull and Honda have won several world titles together, and ahead of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, the Milton Keynes-based team has presented a special livery for its RB21s, driven as usual by Max Verstappen and the newly arrived Yuki Tsunoda, who replaced New Zealander Liam Lawson after just two races.
The livery designed for the occasion is a true tribute to the Honda RA272, the car that, with Richie Ginther, secured Honda’s first-ever Formula 1 victory at the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix, exactly 60 years ago.
Red Bull and Honda had been discussing this livery for nearly a year. The idea was to do something special to celebrate the final year of their collaboration at Honda’s home Grand Prix.
The RB21s will feature the same design used on Ginther’s RA272 in 1965: a white background replacing Red Bull’s usual navy blue base, with red elements evoking the Japanese flag.
The charging bull remains on the engine cover but is now entirely painted in red (specifically, metallic red). However, the usual golden circle that typically serves as a backdrop for the bull has been removed.
The nose will also be partially red, replicating the design of the RA272. Both the nose and engine cover will feature a different Honda logo, also in red.
This special livery for the RB21s at Suzuka is reminiscent of the one Red Bull used at the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix. On that occasion, the Anglo-Austrian team’s RB16Bs sported a red-and-white color scheme to celebrate the Japanese Grand Prix, which was not held that season.
There is also an interesting detail regarding the color choice: the white-red scheme mirrors the Japanese flag and is widely used in Japan as a symbol of good fortune.
Max Verstappen will certainly need some luck this year as he aims to defend his title and secure the fifth of his career. The same goes for Yuki Tsunoda, who will be hoping not to become just another teammate thrown into the meat grinder of a Verstappen-centric team, only to be devoured by the phenomenal Dutchman himself.
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