Watanabe on why Honda’s fifth Formula 1 comeback will succeed

The decision comes just five years after Honda exited the sport at the end of 2021 to focus on electrification and environmental technology, raising eyebrows across the paddock. But according to Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) President Koji Watanabe, this return is not a U-turn but a strategic evolution aligned with the future of mobility.

In a lengthy interview with Kyodo News, earlier this month, Watanabe explained: “Withdrawal was no mean feat, as the entire Honda Group was making a major shift toward electrification. F1 requires a large number of top engineers. We needed to allocate people, materials, and money, all of it, primarily to electrification.

“After that, the new F1 regulations starting in 2026 were finalized, placing emphasis on carbon neutrality and dramatically increasing the proportion of electrification. Some of the technology can be applied to commercial production, and it can also be adapted for use in eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft. With these prospects in mind, we decided to take on the challenge again.”

Honda’s exit in 2021 was softened by its continued technical support to Red Bull via HRC, a partnership that produced four straight F1 world titles for Max Verstappen through 2024.

“From our perspective, I think this can be said to be a success that will go down in F1 history,” said Watanabe. “Red Bull is all about Mateschitz, who passed away in 2022. His leadership, vision and determination to win were some of Red Bull's strengths.”

While Red Bull will continue building its own power units with Ford from 2026 onward, Honda's next chapter will be with Aston Martin.

“If we don't register as a manufacturer in advance, we won't receive an entry ticket for 2026. As a racing company, we wanted to be involved in the future developments in F1,” Watanabe said. “At that point, Honda wasn't giving us permission to re-enter, but when we registered, we were in contact with various teams.

"Like Mateschitz, Stroll has leadership, passion, and a love of racing. He also has a high opinion of Honda. From there, we entered into serious discussions," he revealed.

With the new 2026 F1 regulations shifting the balance of power toward electrical output and carbon neutrality, Watanabe admits the future is still uncertain: “The regulations are completely new, so we don't really know what other companies are doing. We'll set a reasonable target several steps higher than the current one, and work towards it.

"We have no idea what position we'll be in, but we're always thinking about winning. We can't win unless we incorporate new ideas and technologies to a certain extent. That's what we're challenging," reckoned the HRC boss.

This latest re-entry comes with internal structural changes. Unlike previous Honda F1 programs that were overseen by temporary R&D projects, HRC now integrates both two- and four-wheel racing.

Watanabe recalled: “At the stage of our withdrawal, we had no intention of doing it so soon. In that sense, it may be understandable that it is called a ‘waste’. However, Honda's F1 activities were previously handled by the research laboratory, but in 2022 we integrated our four-wheel racing into HRC, which was a two-wheel racing company, and continued our connection with F1.

“F1 is cutting-edge technology, so there are not many things that can be applied to what is called today's mass production. However, engineers who have experienced the world's highest stage, F1, will be the driving force behind creating what does not exist now. We develop people and technology. That is our policy. That is why we race," declared Watanabe.

Another key factor in Honda’s comeback is the booming popularity of F1 in the United States, thri most important market says Watanabe: “The U.S. is a very important market for Honda. The fact that F1 is so popular is one of the main reasons we can re-enter.

"Honda's brand image in the U.S. has become a little dull, and our customers are getting older. Motorsports is linked to the idea of restoring our sporty, advanced image. I think that will also lead to continuity."

With Honda’s return, all eyes are now on the future of Japanese drivers—especially Yuki Tsunoda, who was promoted mid-season to Red Bull’s main team but has struggled. “He's extremely positive. He's having some trouble with the car's competitiveness, but I think Red Bull will make sure to improve it for the second half of the season.

"I believe he'll take advantage of this opportunity and achieve good results in the second half of the season. We have no intention of tying him down to Honda just because he's a Honda driver. His will is the most important thing.”

With Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll already contracted at Aston Martin through 2025, any future seat for Tsunoda will depend on performance and fit.

“We need a driver lineup that can win. If a Japanese driver fits in well with that, we'd like to push him. In the future, I hope to create opportunities for Yuki Tsunoda, as well as for young drivers who want to follow in his footsteps." Watanabe concluded.