Marko: Honda has not decided on F1 future

  • Published on 11 Nov 2019 16:21
  • comments 5
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko has confirmed that Honda has not yet decided on its future in Formula 1 beyond 2020.

The Japanese manufacturer returned to the sport in 2015 as an engine supplier for McLaren, however after a tumultuous three-year relationship, the two divorced, leaving Honda to join forces with Toro Rosso for 2018.

This year, Red Bull signed on with Honda, with the two picking up two race wins so far at the hands of Max Verstappen.

However, with the 2021 regulations coming into effect, the futures of a number of teams and manufacturers, including Honda, remains unknown.

"Honda has not yet decided," Marko told motorsport-magazin.com. "I think the decision should be made around the race in Abu Dhabi. 

"The regulations are on the table and now you can calculate by how much engine development will become cheaper. There will be restrictions on dyno time and different materials."

Honda's F1 director Toyuharu Tanabe affirms that it has not yet reached its goals in F1, but that Honda's most successful season to date in the turbo hybrid era is giving it encouragement. 

"So far we have not achieved our goal," he said. "But winning is already a milestone on our way. This encourages our development department. It shows our attitude and that we continue to fight and improve to reach our goal."

I was about to form an opinion, but then realized that it was Marko making the comments and it seemed like a wasteful exercise

  • 1
  • Nov 12 2019 - 15:36

Replies (5)

Login to reply
  • Better hurry up on deciding then. What's left to decide on, really? Costs will go down, their engines are getting better at a decent rate, and they are coupled with one of the best teams on the grid. If there ever were a golden chance for them, now's the time.

    • + 0
    • Nov 11 2019 - 20:17
    • I'm sure there are many considerations but for a major car or engine manufacturer the F1 division is a very small part of a very large corporation. The future if F1 isn't progressive from an automotive manufacturer's perspective, except for maybe Ferrari and McLaren, and maybe Alfa who can directly transfer F1 tech into their road/super cars. But for Honda it's not a very progressive roadmap. F1, really Bernie missed the boat, he should have figured out a way to merge F1 and FE when it was feasible. Look at all the manufacturers jumping into FE now. I've heard a few rumors but I haven't heard of any major manufacturer considering getting into F1. It's like the Titanic full of dinosaurs that's about to hit the iceberg of advanced electric auto and battery technology. Who in the current mix of F1 teams will be around in 15-20 years. Mercedes and Renault for sure, and Honda of course, but none of them because of F1.

      • + 0
      • Nov 11 2019 - 20:35
    • I was about to form an opinion, but then realized that it was Marko making the comments and it seemed like a wasteful exercise

      • + 1
      • Nov 12 2019 - 15:36
    • @Ram it is, but a lot of the development done on F1 projects can be funneled into A: other racing projects, and B: car development in general. Honda, in particular, is the world's largest engine manufacturer. They ain't even limited to cars, they produce them for boats, aircrafts and so on. And as so, I feel the argument that the F1 project ain't beneficial for them to be void, because any research and progress done in F1 can be of use in any of their multiple other projects and products. Furthermore: hybrids ain't even dead. EV's are yet to become big, and most cars being sold are still fueldriven. Thus, hybrids still have a place to fill as the bridge between the two, and serve as a decent means to boost efficiency of the Dinojuice drinking regular cars until EV tech is ready.

      • + 0
      • Nov 12 2019 - 18:18
  • Hoi! Stem op mijn erotische foto's op mijn pagina - http://vip-dating.fun

    • + 0
    • Nov 13 2019 - 11:09

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country AT
  • Date of b. Apr 27 1943 (80)
  • Place of b. Graz, Austria, AT
  • Weight 0 kg
  • Length 0 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar