Arai axed as he pays the price for Honda's F1 failings

Honda has confirmed the departure as Formula 1 boss of Yasuhisa Arai, who has been shifted within the company as senior managing director of R&D.

Earlier, we reported speculation from Barcelona that Arai could lose his job following the disastrous start in 2015 to the new McLaren-Honda works collaboration.

"Yusuke Hasegawa has been assigned to replace Yasuhisa Arai to oversee the development, manufacturing and management of the F1 project," Honda confirmed.

Last year when it became evident that Honda was grossly unprepared for the challenge of modern F1, Arai was asked by reporters whether he had apologised for wasting a year of Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso's careers, "I always talk with both drivers," and added, "I don't answer."

Pressed further regarding making an apology, Arai appeared flustered and replied: "Why? Why?"

In an interview during the mid-season last year Arai admitted, "The current technology is much more sophisticated and it is tough to make a good racing car."

"We knew it wouldn’t be easy, but perhaps we didn’t imagine that it would be this hard. I certainly didn’t imagine technology wise what we would be facing," he added.

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has announced today its annual organizational and personnel changes, including Operating Officers and Directors’ changes, effective April 1, 2016. In line with this decision, Honda has implemented changes in its managerial structure that oversees Honda’s Formula One (F1) project.

Honda Motor Co., Ltd will appoint a new Director role to oversee and supervise all F1 related undertakings to strengthen the organizational structure for Honda’s F1 project.

Yoshiyuki Matsumoto

Furthermore, in accordance with the organizational changes in Honda R&D Co., Ltd,
Yusuke Hasegawa has been assigned to replace Yasuhisa ARAI to oversee the development, manufacturing and management of the F1 project.

Yusuke Hasegawa

Yasuhisa Arai