Find out why is Honda leaving F1 despite helping Red Bull star in the 2021 season
The 2021 Formula One season will be the final season we will see Honda engines being used in F1. In 2018 the company had returned to F1 after over seven years absence. The company provided engines to McLaren and the two split their ways after three years.
In 2018 Honda partnered with Alpha Tauri (then Toro Rosso). RedBull wanted to test the engines first and if it worked out well RedBull Racing was also supposed to join hands with Honda.
They saw Honda as a better option than Renault and signed an agreement till the end of 2021 season. Both Alpha Tauri and RedBull Racing have performed amazingly with Honda engines.
It was announced that Honda will not be providing engines in F1 anymore and 2021 will be it’s last season. When the company first exited in 2008 their reasons were economical. It seemed like this will be the case again. But the company later revealed that they wanted to focus on developing alternative energy forms and also to be carbon neutral by 2050.
Honda have made it known that they want to focus their resources on a sustainable future and to do that they have to step away from racing. Further, they can make use of the engineers who worked in F1 for a better use according to the company.
As more and more companies have started thinking about becoming carbon neutral Honda does not want to be left behind as they think they can achieve that too.
RedBull’s Future without Honda
RedBull and Honda have managed to create a monster of a car together. They have arguably the best car on the grid this season. And for RedBull it will come as a hard pill to swallow that Honda won’t continue after this season.
There has been no revelations on RedBull’s new engine providers for next season. Both Alpha Tauri and RedBull currently sit with no engine providers. It seems like RedBull will have to work with either Mercedes or Ferrari. Renault seems to be out of conversation as their relationship ended on a sour note in 2018 and a reunion doesn’t seem likely.
However, Renault only supplies to one team at the moment and FIA regulations can ask the manufacturer with the least number of partners to take over. Mercedes currently supplies four teams and Ferrari supplies three teams. Which will leave Renault as the obligatory supplier.
RedBull however can also work with a new supplier and also fund it’s own project which is unlikely at the moment. RedBull can join hands with Volkswagen who are a big name in the auto industry.
With less than six months remaining for the 2022 season it will be interesting to see who joins hands with RedBull.
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