Honda Pulls Out of Formula 1 Racing, Leaving Red Bull/Alpha Tauri in a Lurch

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Honda Motor Corporation announced it will pull out of the sport at the end of 2021 and focus attention on zero-emissions technologies.


The decision will leave three engine manufactures in the sport–Ferrari and Mercedes–who have already committed to the sport past 2021, and Renault. Those commitments mean that nine current F1 teams will be fine–four use Mercedes engines, three are with Ferrari, and two have contracts with Renault.

Courtesy: Rallystar

At least for now, in a lurch are two teams powered by Honda engines–Red Bull Racing, and its sister team, Alpha Tauri (formally known as Toro Rosso).

So now what? For the Red Bull squad, it’s a touchy situation. Ferrari could be the answer because the two companies have had a relationship in the past. Mercedes is the more complicated option because it would seem odd to race with its main rival’s powerplant engines.

Another option would be a new engine supplier entering the sport. Porsche has been here before, and Audi is a possibility, too. The problem is that both companies are more interested in Formula E. Peugeot and Toyota are possibilities as well, but French and Japanese manufactures are committed to the World Endurance Championship.

That means its likely to be a long year-and-a-half for Red Bull. What comes next is no minor matter.

About Mark Gero

Mark began his addiction to Formula 1 racing watching races on the television at Watkins Glen and attending Grand Prix races in person at Long Beach, California in the 1970s and early 80s. Turning to the journalism side of motorsports in 2001, Mark started by writing Grand Prix weekend stories for San Diego, California based All-Sports under Jerry Preeper. He left one year later for E-Sports in Florida. Mark’s big break came when he wrote for the late Mike Hollander at Racing Services. Then, in 2010, he joined Racingnation for three seasons. For the remaining part of this decade, Mark continued to advance, writing articles for the Munich Eye Newspaper in Munich, Germany, and returning to the U.S. to finish his degree in Journalism and Mass Communications at Ashford University. After graduating, Mark was hired by Autoweek before moving on to the racing website, Frontstretch, until late last year. Mark currently lives in Los Angeles, California.



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