- Honda is gearing up for a fully-fledged return to top-flight motorsport with Aston Martin in 2026, incorporating Honda Racing Corporation UK Ltd. (HRC UK).
- The new company will form a European base, specializing in post-race teardowns and maintenance of power units.
- Califonia-based HRC USA will also be involved in the new powertrain program.
Honda has announced the formation of a new company in the UK ahead of its full return to Formula 1 in 2026. The new company will be a subsidiary of Honda Racing Corporation. It will focus on post-race maintenance of power units and serve as a European hub for logistics as it supplies power units to the Aston Martin F1 team under the new regulations that come into place.
HRC UK will begin recruiting engineers, technicians, and other staff members in the Spring. Meanwhile, HRC USA will continue to contribute to the development of the new power unit, which will be built to satisfy the new 2026 regulations.
Related: Honda’s U.S. And Japanese Motorsports Divisions Join Together To Develop F1 Power Unit
Last year, it was announced that Honda Performance Development, a U.S. entity focused primarily on IndyCar, IMSA, and Formula Regional America, would be rebranded as HRC US. The move would see the U.S. arm working closely with HRC Japan. Thanks to their experience building the victorious Acura V6 hybrid power unit, HRC US will be a significant contributor to the new F1 power unit.
With more North American rounds featured on the calendar (five in 2024), the split between HRC USA and HRC UK could make sense logistically, too, allowing PUs to travel a shorter distance between the track and individual centers for post-race analysis.
See Also: Honda Will Supply Hybrid Powertrains To Aston Martin In F1 From 2026
If you’re confused about Honda’s “return” to F1, we don’t blame you — after all, the Honda name still features on the side of Red Bull and RB F1 Team cars.
Honda officially left the sport at the end of 2021. However, swayed by Red Bull’s championship success, they opted to extend technical and manufacturing support until the end of 2025. Red Bull Powertrains was left responsible for the PU production and operation of the Energy Storage System.
Despite the success of the Red Bull-Honda partnership, the Japanese automaker’s in-out approach saw Red Bull look for a new suiter. Last year, it was announced that Ford would partner with RBPT.
Honda was subsequently tempted back to the F1 fold with their own new venture, joining hands with the Aston Martin F1 team.
The new regulations are a big turning point for the Japanese automaker, who initially left the sport to focus on the development of new-energy vehicles. It’s said that the regulations’ increase in the electric split of the hybrid system to half (with the 1.6-liter turbo ICE engine supplying the rest) was a major factor in the company registering its interest in an F1 return. Formula 1 will also be ditching the complex and expensive Motor Generator Unit-Heat (MGUH), a move that was seen as a major step in attracting automakers such as Audi into the series.
Speaking to Motorsport, the head of HRC USA, Koji Watanabe said: “A new corporate organisation has been established to carry out F1 activities, which is very significant. Until now, our activities have been projects, gathering people and money, disbanding when the project was over, and repeating. However, going forward, we will be responsible for the racing company’s activities.”
