865 replies to this topic

[Victor_RO]

Just announced on their Twitter feed:
 
https://twitter.com/...939127177351168
 
Is it just me or did this come out of absolutely nowhere? At least it's giving the teams a year's notice to switch suppliers, but... feels almost as sudden as the previous time they announced their departure.
 
https://the-race.com...he-end-of-2021/
 
https://www.racefans...quit-formula-1/
 
EDIT: Official press release:
 
https://global.honda...201002aeng.html
 

Honda to Conclude Participation in FIA Formula One World Championship
October 2, 2020, Japan Corporate
TOKYO, Japan, October 2, 2020 - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced that it has decided to conclude its participation in the FIA*1 Formula One (F1) World Championship as a power unit supplier at the end of the 2021 season.

In 2015, Honda resumed competition in F1, the most prestigious automobile racing series in the world, with the goal to win using its own energy management technologies. Initially, Honda experienced a number of difficulties; however, by demonstrating the collective strength of “All Honda,” including the utilization of its aircraft engine technologies, Honda has realized a high level of competitiveness.
Moreover, as a result of the growth Honda achieved together with Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri under a strong partnership with both teams, Honda was able to attain its goal of earning victories with three wins last season and two wins* so far in the 2020 season.
In the meantime, as the automobile industry undergoes a once-in-one-hundred-years period of great transformation, Honda has decided to strive for the “realization of carbon neutrality by 2050.” This goal will be pursued as part of Honda’s environmental initiatives which is one of the top priorities of Honda as a mobility manufacturer.
Toward this end, Honda needs to funnel its corporate resources in research and development into the areas of future power unit and energy technologies, including fuel cell vehicle (FCV) and battery EV (BEV) technologies, which will be the core of carbon-free technologies. As a part of this move, in April of this year, Honda created a new center called Innovative Research Excellence, Power Unit & Energy. Honda will allocate its energy management and fuel technologies as well as knowledge amassed through F1 activities to this area of power unit and energy technologies and take initiatives while focusing on the future realization of carbon neutrality. Toward this end, Honda made the decision to conclude its participation in F1.
Motorsports activities are in Honda’s DNA, and therefore Honda will continue to be passionate about taking on challenges and striving to become No. 1 in all categories of racing in which Honda participates.
In F1, in order to fulfill the expectations of its fans, Honda will work together with Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri to continue competing with its utmost effort and strive for more victories all the way to the end of the 2021 season.
With its “challenging spirit” cultivated through motorsports activities, Honda will take on the new challenge of the future realization of carbon neutrality.
Honda will appreciate the continuous understanding and support for its motorsports activities and for the new challenge of Honda.

[Junky]

This a bombshell - even if it is not a total surprise.

[Maustinsj]

Here’s to Red Bull Renault and all that entails!

[TomNokoe]

welp

[Slackbladder]

Holy hell.... Will Red Bull have to eat humble pie and go back to Renault?

[H0R]

Oh, wow. I actually didn't expect this. Red Bull Merc incoming?

[Marklar]

not coming out of nowhere. Marko said they expected a decision in october

this has huge implications now on driver and team market.

[SophieB]

Yeah, Adam Cooper tweeting "confirmation that Honda will pull out of F1..." like everyone knew this was happening is a bit much. If you did, chuck us dopes a bone from time to time.

[BertoC]

Back beging to Renault huh?

[Astandahl]

Hybrid engines

[Joseki]

[shure]

did not see that coming.  It's an indictment of the current PU legislation and basically an admission by Honda that they cannot see themselves being competitive.

 

Bit worried for what that means for Red Bull.  Kinda feel there's a strong chance they may pull out.  only 3 manufacturers leaves F1 in a precarious place IMO

[SilverArrow31]

Both will end up back at Renault, Mercedes is already providing power units to four teams in 2022.

Mercedes - Mercedes, Mclaren, Aston Martin, Williams

Ferrari - Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Haas

Renault - Renault, Red Bull, Alpha Tauri

Edited by SilverArrow31, 02 October 2020 - 08:11.

[Joseki]

Red Bull will have to come back to Renault with the tail between they beat up ass now, I'm laughing so hard

Edited by Joseki, 02 October 2020 - 08:12.

[Jordan44]

Oh, wow. I actually didn't expect this. Red Bull Merc incoming?

Cannot see it - look at how many teams they already have signed up for 2021.

Ferrari definitely won't supply Red Bull either.

Their best chance is pandering to Renault.

[HuddersfieldTerrier1986]

The only place RBR and AT can go is back to Renault. Neither Merc or Ferrari will entertain the idea of powering a potential championship rival, so Renault is their only remotely realistic option. However, we all know how it ended with Renault last time RBR were with them...…..

[GoldenColt]

Red Bull finally reacquainted with their beloved engine supplier of old.

 

[Trust]

RB will bring the Aston Martin engine.

[Marklar]

I expect Merc to sign Max for 2022 now tbh. Cant imagine him sticking around with Renault.

I had the suspicion that the delays in Hamilton's contract extension was related to the Honda decision everyone was expecting to come this month. Will be interesting to see his contract length now.

Hopefully Red Bull sticks around though.

[PlayboyRacer]

How are the Verstappens feeling right about now...

[kosmos]

I hope Renault is not forced to provide engines to them, they don't deserve them.

 

Honda

Edited by kosmos, 02 October 2020 - 08:15.

[Clrnc]

Oh dear this has really f RB up massively. They will need to take a begging stand back to Renault unless they can attract a new manufacturer.

Mclaren is so smart

[TomNokoe]

RB will bring the Aston Martin engine.

Was also thinking this

[FullOppositeLock]

Whoops, the end for Red Bull's and Max' hopes of challenging Mercedes I fear. This is a massive, massive blow for them, and the sport in general.

[Ben1445]

Wasn't expecting that 

[SophieB]

It is a catastrophic blow for the sport in general.

[Arundo]

Figures, why keep trying something in F1 when you wont be getting near WDC at all.

 

Redbull also going to leave, they said something when they cant get a competitive engine.

Renault is a no go i guess, Ferrari is too slow and Mercedes is not up to supply.

Edited by Arundo, 02 October 2020 - 08:18.

[Coral]

Wow. I didn't expect that!

 

What will Red Bull do now? Back to Renault? Can't see that happening somehow...

[Risil]

Wowee.

[BertoC]

Red Bull must be cursing to the skies Mclaren going to Mercedes, otherwise this would be the perfect chance to finally have those engines on their cars. And it's a validation that leaving Honda was the best decision from Mclaren. These manufactors leave the first global crisis they see.

[Ben1445]

In the meantime, as the automobile industry undergoes a once-in-one-hundred-years period of great transformation, Honda has decided to strive for the “realization of carbon neutrality by 2050.” This goal will be pursued as part of Honda’s environmental initiatives which is one of the top priorities of Honda as a mobility manufacturer.

Toward this end, Honda needs to funnel its corporate resources in research and development into the areas of future power unit and energy technologies, including fuel cell vehicle (FCV) and battery EV (BEV) technologies, which will be the core of carbon-free technologies.

Edited by Ben1445, 02 October 2020 - 08:18.

[Joseki]

It is a catastrophic blow for the sport in general.

Let's be honest, everyone that wasn't intentionally obtuse saw this coming from years.

 

The current engine rules are an insane sinkhole that has no reason to exist in 2020.

[tomjol]

Wild prediction: RB buys the Honda engine IP and uses it to dominate the 2022 championship, in a repeat of the Brawn saga.

[Kao18]

Wow, total shock. Not sure what this means for the team and Max.

 

If Max would leave I cant imagine RB will stay.

 

On the other hand I assume they hava a well thought out plan B in place in case this scenario (Honda pulling out) would happen.

[MCH]

F1 should never have went Hybrid with complete system development put in the hands of manufacturers. At this rate F1 will be a spec series in 5 years but really they should go full electric before that.

[noikeee]

Good luck Red Bull! You can now pick and choose between 3 partners which you have all absolutely repeatedly slagged off over the years!

[Marklar]

Figures, why keep trying something in F1 when you wont be getting near WDC at all.

Redbull also going to leave, they said something when they cant get a competitive engine.

that I'm sure was just negotiation tactic so that Merc is going to be forced to supply them with engines if that happens.

In a more recent interview Marko said that Honda pulling out wont automatically mean that RB will too.

[Sterzo]

The big problem with this announcement is that it's totally reasonable, and the costs and the manufacturer orientation towards electric are not exclusive to Honda. We need a radical reset for F1 to be worked out and announced, so the future is visible.

[Slackbladder]

It is a catastrophic blow for the sport in general.

 

It certainly is never never good when a supplier leaves. Gives more power to those which remain, like Merc certainly, which lets face it is the last thing the sport needs.

[Lerdes]

I remember they signed a 10 year contract with Mclaren in 2014/2015. So today one can say Mclaren was right to end this mess in 2017.

Edited by Lerdes, 02 October 2020 - 08:22.

[RainyAfterlifeDaylight]

Renault to RedBull:

 

[Anja]

Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if Red Bull decides it's not worth it and follows suit. They were pretty much all in with Honda. 

[Gary Davies]

“Hi Cyril, Helmut here. How are you, my friend?”

:-)

[Lerdes]

Good luck Red Bull! You can now pick and choose between 3 partners which you have all absolutely repeatedly slagged off over the years!

Could mean the end for Red Bull aswell...

[Marklar]

Renault to RedBull:

they cant say no tho.

[balage06]

Wow, that's unexpected.

[FullOppositeLock]

Both will end up back at Renault, Mercedes is already providing power units to four teams in 2022.

Mercedes - Mercedes, Mclaren, Aston Martin, Williams

Ferrari - Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Haas

Renault - Renault, Red Bull, Alpha Tauri

I fear Dieter would sooner pull out of F1 altogether, and I can't really blame him either. It's become a bit of a sad joke of a sport, a shell of its former self.

[Risil]

So Honda are citing the cost of competing with Mercedes, and weighing that up against the need to direct resources to designing and building carbon-free automobiles.

 

Another tricky situation for F1. The first manufacturer to leave since the beginning of the hybrid regulations in 2014, and the reason was that the engines are too expensive and not relevant to the direction of the industry.

[Arundo]

Next year dont expect much from Redbull why would Honda keep developing something which they wont be using anymore.

So another year of nothing special at the front... yay...

[Joseki]

they cant say no tho.

It doesn't mean they can't have fun humiliating Red Bull for a while tho.