- Red Bull and Honda have technical partnership until 2025
- Honda Racing Corporation logo previously featured on the car this season
The Red Bull Formula One team will see the Honda logo return to its cars for the first time since the Japanese automobile manufacturer announced its exit from the global motorsport series.
The logo, which will also feature on the sister AlphaTauri team's vehicles, will replace the Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) branding that has been positioned towards the rear of the cars this season.
It will be in place from this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix onwards, with Honda also being title sponsor of the race at the Suzuka Circuit.
Honda initially supplied engines to Red Bull from 2019 before pulling out of the series at the end of the 2021 season.
However, since that decision, the company has provided technical support to the newly created Red Bull Powertrains division. The technical partnership was recently extended to the end of the 2025 season, the year before the new engine regulations come into effect.
Red Bull had explored partnering with Porsche for the new regulations but, now that Porsche is reportedly ruling out Formula One, it is looking increasingly likely that the team may have used those negotiations as a bargaining chip to encourage Honda to return.
As part of Honda's expanded presence with the two Red Bull teams, Mexican driver Sergio Pérez will become an ambassador for the Honda Racing School (HRS). Pérez will begin his role with a lecture session for HRS students in November.
There will also be a commemorative day held for HRC on 27th November, which Red Bull's Pérez and Max Verstappen will attend with AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda.
“Honda has invested significantly in hybrid technology over the course of our partnership,” said Christian Horner, team principal and chief executive of Red Bull Racing. “This has ensured the supply of competitive power units to both teams, for which we are very grateful.
“Our combined goal is to continue to deliver dominant engines and achieve the most success possible in the following three years. To mark this, we look forward to welcoming the Honda logo back on to the car from Suzuka onwards.”
Koji Watanabe, head of corporate communications supervisory unit at Honda Motor Co and president of Honda Racing Corporation, added: “The HRC logo on the nose and Honda logo on the side of the race machines of both teams represent the strong ties between Honda and Red Bull Group.
“Through the technical support provided by HRC, Honda will fully support the challenges those machines take on to become the ‘fastest in the world’.”