Honda’s return to F1 in the 2015 season was a much celebrated one and especially since it revived partnership with McLaren which ended in 2008. Honda has always been part of Formula one ever since the sport started and has donned many hats; of being a full-fledged team to becoming an engine supplier and so when the Japanese car maker decided to get back together with McLaren for the 2015 season, along with two World Champion drivers, Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso, it seemed that the formula would work in their favour. But it was not to be, constant engine problems and of course issues with the setup saw the Honda-McLaren team rake in just 27 points in the 2015-16 season and improved massively with 76 points in the 2016-17 season.
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Now in the 2017-18 season, it’s not been smooth sailing either and it was recently that Honda announced that the partnership with McLaren was at an end and we told you all about it. But this does not mean that Honda will fade away and get out of the sport. In fact the company will be now providing engines to Toro Rosso and will constantly continue to work on its powertrain. Honda can develop their engine there with less stress and hopefully make real progress on getting up to speed.
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This was reiterated by the Takahiro Hachigo, President& Representative Director, CEO Honda Motor Co. Ltd as he said, “We do feel frustration because we haven’t had a good season. Therefore we are giving everything for F1. And while we are in F1 we do not anticipate that we would take part in Formula E.”
The company is also working on hybrid technology which is something that F1 engines use too. Hachigo said, “Currently we believe that the pinnacle of automotive Motorsport is F1. And at the same time F1 regulations go with hybrid which is good as the tech used for mass produced cars is similar.”
Having said that Hachigo also mentioned that Honda had no plans to enter the Formula E all-electric car racing Championships and in fact went on to state that the company will continue to develop its gasoline engine technology.
