Just two days after the Hungarian Grand Prix, Red Bull has announced that it has extended its technical support agreement with Honda until the end of 2025.
Honda withdrew from the sport at the end of 2021 which motivated Red Bull to set up the Red Bull Powertrains. The Japanese manufacturer agreed to provide technical assistance with the current F1 power units being raced by Oracle Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri, but it was believed that this support will end at the end of the current year.
The extension of their agreement will see Red Bull work with Honda until the end of the current engine regulations, which are set for a radical revamp in 2026. The Milton Keynes based team will cooperate with Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), the Honda subsidiary responsible for its racing activities, continuing its successful collaboration with Red Bull Powertrains (RBPT).
Honda confirmed that its official withdrawal from Formula 1 allowed the company to divert PU development resources towards meeting the company’s future carbon-neutral goals. Although the ongoing agreement with Red Bull does not involve PU development, HRC will be able to continue its collaboration with Red Bull from within its current resources.
We’re delighted to announce an extension to our technical support agreement with @Honda to the end of 2025 🤝 #F1
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) August 2, 2022
Team Principal Christian Horner added: “Red Bull’s partnership with Honda has been an incredibly successful one and we are pleased that this will continue until the end of the current era of the FIA’s power unit regulations in 2025.”
Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko said: “We thank Honda for their positive response to working together. We are excited to continue our partnership in F1 until the end of 2025 with the PU supplied by Honda.
“We have had a successful relationship so far, winning the Drivers’ championship in 2021 and currently leading the Drivers’ and Teams’ classifications, with the aim of securing both 2022 titles.”
President of the Honda Racing Corporation, Koji Watanabe, said: “We have agreed to continue supporting Red Bull Power Trains in Formula 1 through HRC, following Red Bull’s request to extend our current agreement, which HRC can meet within its existing resources. Once again, we aim to use our involvement in the pinnacle of motorsport for the development of technologies and of our workforce.”
Honda recently admitted themselves that a return to Formula 1 in the future is possible, with the manufacturer continuing to monitor the sport as it moves towards becoming carbon neutral by 2030.
