Honda can't praise Verstappen enough: 'That was really inspiring'
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Having already won four drivers' and two constructors' championships together, Honda will no longer be Red Bull's power unit supplier from the 2025 season onwards. The President of HRC, Koji Watanabe, has high praise for Max Verstappen, a key figure in the Japanese brand's success.
Verstappen gets praise from Honda
"Last year, in the Formula One World Championship, Max Verstappen achieved the remarkable feat of winning the Drivers' Title for the fourth consecutive season. His determination to secure victory, even in situations that were far from favorable, was truly inspiring," President Watanabe said at the Tokyo Auto Salon.
"Races have the power to emotionally move people. With this belief, we at HRC will continue to challenge ourselves with high goals, strive for victory, and deliver memorable and inspiring moments," he continued.
After the 2025 season, Honda will team up with Aston Martin for the next set of regulation changes, while Red Bull Racing will create their own power units for the first time, in collaboration with Ford. The engine will be branded as Red Bull Ford Powertrains.
"This year marks the conclusion of our F1 partnership with Red Bull. We began supplying power units to Toro Rosso in 2018, and from 2019, we also supplied Red Bull. That year, Max Verstappen brought victory to the Honda power unit in the Austrian Grand Prix. The exciting moment is still unforgettable," Watanabe reflected on the emotional first win that the two achieved together.
Still, there are 24 weekends to go for the partnership in 2025. Therefore, the Japanese promised: "We will continue to fight for more victories until the very end."
This article was written in collaboration with Nicole Mulder
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