Yamamoto: I think Honda will return to Formula 1

After years of struggling with McLaren upon their return to F1 in 2015, the Japanese manufacturer has found success joining Red Bull in 2019, winning 14 races with them, and one race with their junior team AlphaTauri courtesy of Pierre Gasly's sensational victory in Monza in 2020.

However, this year has seen Honda powering Red Bull through an intense title charge with Max Verstappen at the wheel, having announced back in 2020 that this will be their final season in F1 as the company decided to focus on zero-emission technology.

In an interview with formul1.nl, Yamamoto touched on this point, he said: "I personally think it is disappointing that we are withdrawing.

"At the same time, at Honda Racing, we understand that as an automaker, Honda must commit to becoming carbon neutral. That process must be accelerated, hence this decision.

"However, the good thing is that we have always focused on performance and can compete for the title this year," he pointed out. "It's great that this is possible in our last year. It shows that our efforts are paying off in the end."

Honda enjoy the luxury of having Max Verstappen, one of the brightest talents F1 has ever seen, driving the car they power during this season's title fight, with the Dutchman leading the Drivers' Championship by 12 points from Lewis Hamilton, after winning the 2021 United States Grand Prix last Sunday in Austin.

"The result is of course paramount, but he is very special," the Japanese said of Verstappen. "The fans love him, there are also many Max fans in Japan.

"He is also a Honda icon in Japan," he went on. "As Honda, we also use that for our marketing. The relationship with Max is very good."

The Honda man also spoke of the good relations with their partners, which makes their imminent departure from the sport more painful.

"It's true that everyone has a special bond with the team trackside," he revealed. "After all, we have worked together with the same goals in mind.

"At HQ they are further from the track and have decided to go in a different direction, but they understand our feelings too. Just as we respect their decision."

"We are very close and have shared a lot of emotions as partners," Yamamoto went on. "I personally have also developed a close relationship with Helmut Marko, Christian Horner and (AlphaTauri team principal) Franz Tost.

"We have built up a lot of trust and respect among ourselves. That is why we will continue to work together in other motorsport areas," he revealed.

With that said, Yamamoto did not rule out a return for Honda to top flight saying: "I personally think that Honda will return to Formula 1.

"The situation now is that Honda needs to focus on becoming CO2 neutral and accelerate that project.

"If that goes well, I think there are definitely people within the company who want to get back into Formula 1,", the Honda Chief concluded.

If Max Verstappen is crowned F1 Champion this year, then it will be the sixth F1 Drivers' Championship Honda has powered in it's history. Honda has also won two Constructors' crowns with Williams in 1986/87, and four in a row with McLaren between 1988 and 1991.