Red Bull present return of throwback Honda livery for special home Grand Prix

08:00, 01 Apr

Updated: 15:46, 01 Apr

byKada Sarkozi

Red Bull Racing have revealed their previously teased special livery for the Japanese Grand Prix, which will be Honda's final home Grand Prix working together with the team.

Red Bull present special livery for Japanese GP

Red Bull Racing honor their successful partnership with Honda at their home weekend in Suzuka. Their white and red livery returns honouring their time together in the competition in their seventh and final season together.

Verstappen and Tsunoda will run their livery this weekend inspired by Honda's first victory, which was achieved at the 1965 Mexican GP by Richie Ginther in the Honda RA272.

The classic design is white, with a red circle around the number and the classic 'H' logo on the front, referencing the Japanese's brand's victory that happened 60 years ago.

The special livery makes its return to F1 after the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix, where the team already ran a similar concept. That was meant to be run on Honda's final Japanese Grand Prix with the team in 2021, but that was cancelled due to Covid-19. After their success together, the partnership also continued beyond that season.

Team principal Christian Horner is proud to celebrate with this livery. “Our relationship with Honda deserves celebration, it has been one of continued success and brought the Team one of the most triumphant and dominant periods in our history."

"Max has won four World titles with a Honda Power Unit and the Team have lifted two Constructors' titles, in addition, Honda's reliability enabled to complete the most successful season in the sport's history in 2023. This livery is a tribute to Honda's success in the sport and the final year of, what has been a thoroughly enjoyable partnership. I am looking forward to seeing it out on track.”

Koji Watanabe, president of Honda Racing Corporation, was also emotional: “It is quite moving to see the RA272 tribute livery on the latest Red Bull Racing machine, in the final year of Honda and Red Bull’s partnership. Our successful path will continue to shine in the history of F1.”

Celebration of Red Bull's partnership with Honda

Moreover, Red Bull are set to have a showrun event in Tokyo this Wednesday. In the Japanese capital, all current Red Bull and Racing Bulls drivers, Max Verstappen, Yuki Tsunoda, Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar will all driver historic Red Bull cars and also the original Honda RA272 will make an appearance.

In Suzuka as well, everything will revolve around Honda. The team will also have a special team kit matching their livery this weekend, designed by Castore. Verstappen and Tsunoda will race in special white race suits and both will wear an exclusive Japanese GP helmet.