Honda will maintain links with Red Bull throughout the engine freeze between 2022 and 2025, RacingNews365.com has learned. While Honda formally depart Formula 1 at the end of 2021 after successfully landing the Drivers' World Championship with Max Verstappen, their intellectual property will continue in the hands of the newly formed Red Bull Powertrains. Due to the closeness of the Red Bull/Honda partnership, Honda agreed to hand over their designs to Red Bull for 2022 and the beginning of the engine freeze. The intent was for Honda to continue to prepare the engines on behalf of Red Bull for 2022 and 2023. After that season, Red Bull would then take over the manufacturing and management of the power units through their Powertrains division. However, RacingNews365.com now understands that the arrangement for 2022 is set to continue throughout the following seasons and take Red Bull through until 2025 and the end of the current engine regulation cycle. Honda will continue to maintain and supply the engines from Japan, although the engines will not be badged as Honda.
Yamamoto to continue
With Honda pulling out of official F1 competition in order to chase after their climate change goals, the new arrangement won't prove an obstacle. Since engine performance development is frozen, no R&D or financial investments are required and any costs that do arise can be invoiced to Red Bull Powertrains. One familiar face in 2022 will be Masashi Yamamoto. The director of Honda motorsport, who has previously indicated he'd have liked Honda to remain in F1, will switch from Honda to Red Bull Powertrains to help oversee the burgeoning engine project and to continue chasing titles with the team. Multiple sources have collaborated this information to RacingNews365.com .
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