Japanese manufacturer Honda announced that it will continue to supply both Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso for another year in F1 in 2021.
Having made its return to F1 with McLaren, Honda had a difficult start to its V6 hybrid campaign but picked up pace once they joined hands with Toro Rosso in 2018. The association with Red Bull then reaped results in the form of wins and podiums.
Not only Red Bull but they got two podium finishes with Toro Rosso as well. With one round to go, they have three wins and a total of 10 podiums between the two outfits. Ever since Honda took its first F1 win in the hybrid era, speculations were on about their exit.
The idea was that since they have achieved the race win, something which deprived them with McLaren, they might take a back seat from the sport, while others suggested that they will push on for the constructors’ title – albeit by pulling down its cost in F1.
Ahead of this weekend’s Abu Dhabi GP, Honda announced an extension for the 2021 F1 season as the new rules kicks-in, with both Red Bull and Toro Rosso. It is unclear if the Japanese manufacturer will stay on beyond that or is taking 2021 as a litmus test scenario.
No details has been released apart from a message about the extension for 2021. At this juncture, Honda is the only manufacturer to announce their future beyond the 2020 season, with even Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault to make it official.
The German manufacturer, though, has indirectly indicated of their stay after signing s power unit supply deal with McLaren from 2021 onward but as mentioned, they haven’t conveyed the same in an official capacity as Mercedes but through McLaren.
Here’s what Honda said about Red Bull, Toro Rosso environment.