Honda express desire for Max Verstappen 'reunion' ahead of Red Bull exit

With Honda leaving Red Bull at the end of the F1 season to become Aston Martin's works power unit partner, Max Verstappen faces the prospect of fighting for a drivers' championship without the Japanese marque for the first time in his career.

Next year, when F1 overhauls its power unit and chassis regulations, the Dutchman will be vying for the title with his own team's engine in the back of his car - presumably called the RB22.

It will be a new experience for the 27-year-old, who has won each of his four F1 drivers' championships with Honda power beneath him.

However, as time ticks down on Red Bull's relationship with the Japanese car giant, the president of the Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), Koji Watanabe, has expressed his desire to work with the 65-time grand prix winner again in the future, as part of an exclusive interview with RacingNews365.

Verstappen has been linked with a move to Aston Martin, where he would follow not only Honda, but also acclaimed and decorated designer Adrian Newey in making the switch to the Silverstone squad.

And, according to Watanabe, it would be a "very exciting reunion" between driver and power unit provider.

"Yes, of course," he replied when asked if he would like to work with Verstappen again.

"Although we never know what will happen in the future, if we could work again with Max Verstappen, whom we have great respect for his fantastic talent and passion, it will be a very exciting reunion."

Honda rejoined F1 a decade ago, with McLaren, and struggled. At the time, Fernando Alonso branded its power unit a "GP2 engine" - an embarrassing episode for the company, made worse by the remark coming at its home race in Suzuka.

But part of what makes Verstappen such an attractive driver for Honda to work with is the instrumental role he has played in helping turn its power unit into a winning one.

"He played a very important role in the power unit development," Watanabe explained.

"He has an extremely sensitive feel for the power unit and the machine and is able to give precise feedback to engineers. It was very helpful for us to develop the power unit."

Two moments stand alone

That ability has helped create numerous highlights for the Honda over the past seven seasons, when it first teamed up with Red Bull, initially supplying its sister outfit.

Watanabe picked out two moments that sit on a pedestal above all others from their partnership, the first of which had the twin reward of coming at Red Bull's home race.

"It is seven years since we started supplying power units to Red Bull Racing in 2019, and eight years since we started working with Toro Rosso, which is now VCARB, back in 2018," Watanabe reflected.

"There were many memorable moments between us and them. The most beautiful thing I remember is the first victory with RBR at the 2019 Austrian Grand Prix.

"I was in Austria at the time, and I will never forget the excitement as Max Verstappen was at the centre of the podium, pointing to the Honda logo on the chest of his racing suit."

However, Watanabe was sure to include the first time the triad of Red Bull, Honda and Verstappen reached the pinnacle of F1 together, concluding: "Of course, I will not forget the dramatic win of his first world championship at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix."