Honda has announced its decision to participate in the Formula One (F1) World Championship from the 2015 season under a joint project with McLaren.
McLaren’s cars will then be powered by Honda engines and energy recovery systems, renewing a relationship between the two companies that won four drivers’ championships, four constructors’ championships and 44 Grands Prix between 1988 and 1992. The team will be renamed as McLaren-Honda.
Honda has not competed in Formula One racing since the end of 2008, but the switch to a new 1.6-litre turbocharged engine formula in 2014 has encouraged the Japanese automaker to return to the motorsport.
Throughout its history, Honda has pursued improvements in the efficiency of the internal combustion engine and in more recent years, the development of pioneering energy management technologies such as hybrid systems. Participation in Formula 1 under these new regulations will encourage even further technological progress in both these areas. Furthermore, a new generation of Honda engineers can learn the challenges and the thrills of operating at the pinnacle of motorsport.
Honda will develop its engines at its research and development facility in Tochigi, Japan, where it has already made some progress with its all-new 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 Formula One engine.
Honda’s agreement to supply McLaren with engines from 2015 onwards will bring to an end the Woking-based team’s long association with their current engine supplier, Mercedes, whom the team has had a relationship since 1995.
Source: Formula1.com
