Formula 1: Honda issues quit notice to Formula 1

Japanese manufacturer Honda has announced it will withdraw from Formula 1 at the end of the 2021 season.

Honda provides engines to both Red Bull and AlphaTauri, so this new announcement leaves them both on the lookout for new suppliers from 2022.

Christian Horner, who is the boss at Red Bull says in a statement: “As a team, we understand how difficult it has been for Honda Motor Company to reach the decision to step back from Formula One at the end of the 2021 season.

“The shifting focus within the automotive industry has led to Honda’s decision to redeploy its resources and we understand and respect the reasoning behind this. Their decision presents obvious challenges for us as a team but we have been here before and with our strength in depth we are well prepared and equipped to respond effectively, as we have proven in the past,” the statement says.

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The statement continues: “Whilst we are disappointed not to continue our partnership with Honda, we are enormously proud of our joint success, delivering five wins and 15 podiums for both Red Bull-owned teams and we thank everyone at Honda for their extraordinary efforts and commitment.

“Our joint focus for the remainder of the 2020 and 2021 seasons are unchanged, to fight for victories and challenge for the championship.

“As a signatory to Formula One’s latest Concorde Agreement, Red Bull Racing remains committed to the sport in the long term and we look forward to embarking on a new era of innovation, development, and success. As a group, we will now take the time afforded to us to further evaluate and find the most competitive power unit solution for 2022 and beyond.”

Honda who has had a torrid three-season reunion with McLaren started to turn around their F1 fortunes with AlphaTauri from 2018 before also joining forces with the senior Red Bull team the following year, going on to win three races in 2019.

So far in 2020, both Red Bull and AlphaTauri have won a Grand Prix apiece with Honda the only engine maker other than Mercedes to win races.

And as it stands, Red Bull only has three power providers to turn to from 2022 as possible alternatives.

Mercedes, the company’s big F1 rivals, will already supply four teams from next season - McLaren, Racing Point, Williams, and their own title-winning works team.

Ferrari, meanwhile, supply Haas and Alfa Romeo in addition to their own team.

However, Renault is the only manufacturer without any customers on their books but previously supplied Red Bull for 12 seasons - including all four of the latter’s double title-winning campaigns in the early 2010s.

But during the hybrid engine era, the Red Bull-Renault relationship became increasingly tense and the Milton Keynes-based team ultimately sought out Honda to try and carve out a championship push to Mercedes.

Red Bull, however, has previously ruled out building its own F1 engine.