Honda to leave Formula One after the end of the 2021 season

Red Bull and AlphaTauri are on the search for a new power unit supplier after the shock announcement that Honda will withdraw from Formula One at the end of 2021. Honda returned in 2015 with McLaren, having been inspired by the new breed of power units that focused on hybrid and energy recovery technology.

However, Honda suffered a difficult and unsuccessful partnership, culminating in both parties splitting up and Honda joining forces with Toro Rosso for 2018, before taking on Red Bull as a works team the following year.
Across the two teams, they have clinched five race victories to date in their two-and-a-half-year partnership with the Red Bull family.

However, Honda have decided not to continue beyond their current arrangement with Red Bull and AlphaTauri, which exists until the end of 2021. Honda said the decision had been made because the automobile industry was going through a "once-in-one-hundred-year period of great transformation" and that they'll leave having been "able to attain its goal of earning victories".

The decision will leave Formula One with three power unit suppliers - Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault. Under the current rules, Renault would be obliged to supply Red Bull and AlphaTauri with engines as they currently have the fewest customers, unless the teams can convince Mercedes or Ferrari to provide a supply.

"We look forward to embarking on a new era of innovation, development and success," said Red Bull boss Christian Horner, who said he understood and respected Honda's decision. "As a group, we will now take the time afforded to us to further evaluate and find the most competitive power unit solution for 2022 and beyond."