Masashi Yamamoto, managing director of Honda F1, said he felt it was too early for Honda to withdraw from F1 and hopes to return to F1 someday.
Honda, which returned to F1 as a McLaren works partner in 2015 and supplied Alpha Taul and Red Bull with F1 power units for seven years, announced in October 2020 that it would withdraw from F1 with the 2021 season.
Red Bull, who lost its engine partner, did not choose to become a customer of other suppliers, took over the intellectual property rights of F1 engines from Honda, and became its own engine division on the premises of Milton Keynes. Established Power Trains. We are preparing to acquire the staff of Honda and rival teams.
After three years of struggle with McLaren, the Honda F1 eventually improved its engine significantly, until Red Bull could compete with the dominant Mercedes F1. In 2021, Max Verstappen helped defeat Lewis Hamilton to win the F1 World Champion.
Masashi Yamamoto, who was asked if he felt it was too early to thoroughly implement F1 when Honda F1’s labor finally began to produce results, agrees, “I personally say yes.”
“But, of course, it’s a company decision, and we know what direction the company wants to go, so we have to accept it in the end.”
“But I always have the imagination, so I hope Honda will return to F1 someday.”
Masashi Yamamoto admits that it is sad for Honda to withdraw from F1, but winning the drivers’ championship at Max Verstappen is “satisfied, not reassuring” and Honda finally achieved its goal. He said he wouldn’t leave an unfinished business.
“Of course, sadly, I knew it from October 2020, and I knew I had to push to win the title in 2021,” explained Masashi Yamamoto.
“We changed our minds and considered the decisions in different ways. We tried to provide everything in the time left.”
“Last year I focused on winning the championship, but now I think I’ve done my job in F1. It was within the time frame we set, but we were able to reach our goal.”
“First, we partnered with Toro Rosso and a year later Red Bull entered. Our goal and their goal was to win the championship within three years. That’s exactly what happened in 2021. I think it’s a great story, especially because I put a lot of effort into this. “
Masashi Yamamoto continued to support Red Bull’s “challenge” efforts to operate F1 engines normally in-house, and the 2022 F1 engine specifications were designed at Honda’s factory in Sakura City, Tochigi Prefecture. He added that it was a thing.
“We support Red Bull Powertrains to perform well with AlphaTauri and Red Bull, but it certainly will be a different relationship,” said Masashi Yamamoto.
“It’s challenging, but it’s also true that they want to be a stronger and more integrated team by having everything in-house. As Honda, it’s possible with resources to make the project a success. I would like to support you as much as possible. ”
Category: Category: F1 / Honda F1
