Marko: Honda has not decided on F1 future
- Published on 11 Nov 2019 16:21
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- By: Fergal Walsh
Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko has confirmed that Honda has not yet decided on its future in Formula 1 beyond 2020.
The Japanese manufacturer returned to the sport in 2015 as an engine supplier for McLaren, however after a tumultuous three-year relationship, the two divorced, leaving Honda to join forces with Toro Rosso for 2018.
This year, Red Bull signed on with Honda, with the two picking up two race wins so far at the hands of Max Verstappen.
However, with the 2021 regulations coming into effect, the futures of a number of teams and manufacturers, including Honda, remains unknown.
"Honda has not yet decided," Marko told motorsport-magazin.com. "I think the decision should be made around the race in Abu Dhabi.
"The regulations are on the table and now you can calculate by how much engine development will become cheaper. There will be restrictions on dyno time and different materials."
Honda's F1 director Toyuharu Tanabe affirms that it has not yet reached its goals in F1, but that Honda's most successful season to date in the turbo hybrid era is giving it encouragement.
"So far we have not achieved our goal," he said. "But winning is already a milestone on our way. This encourages our development department. It shows our attitude and that we continue to fight and improve to reach our goal."
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Replies (5)
Login to replycalle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Better hurry up on deciding then. What's left to decide on, really? Costs will go down, their engines are getting better at a decent rate, and they are coupled with one of the best teams on the grid. If there ever were a golden chance for them, now's the time.
Ram Samartha
Posts: 1,172
I'm sure there are many considerations but for a major car or engine manufacturer the F1 division is a very small part of a very large corporation. The future if F1 isn't progressive from an automotive manufacturer's perspective, except for maybe Ferrari and McLaren, and maybe Alfa who can directly transfer F1 tech into their road/super cars. But for Honda it's not a very progressive roadmap. F1, really Bernie missed the boat, he should have figured out a way to merge F1 and FE when it was feasible. Look at all the manufacturers jumping into FE now. I've heard a few rumors but I haven't heard of any major manufacturer considering getting into F1. It's like the Titanic full of dinosaurs that's about to hit the iceberg of advanced electric auto and battery technology. Who in the current mix of F1 teams will be around in 15-20 years. Mercedes and Renault for sure, and Honda of course, but none of them because of F1.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
I was about to form an opinion, but then realized that it was Marko making the comments and it seemed like a wasteful exercise
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
@Ram it is, but a lot of the development done on F1 projects can be funneled into A: other racing projects, and B: car development in general. Honda, in particular, is the world's largest engine manufacturer. They ain't even limited to cars, they produce them for boats, aircrafts and so on. And as so, I feel the argument that the F1 project ain't beneficial for them to be void, because any research and progress done in F1 can be of use in any of their multiple other projects and products. Furthermore: hybrids ain't even dead. EV's are yet to become big, and most cars being sold are still fueldriven. Thus, hybrids still have a place to fill as the bridge between the two, and serve as a decent means to boost efficiency of the Dinojuice drinking regular cars until EV tech is ready.
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Posts: 13
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