Honda motorsport boss Yamamoto handed specific F1 role

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Starting next month, Honda motorsport boss Masashi Yamamoto will focus exclusively on the company's involvement in Formula 1 with Red Bull.

While he managed the Japanese manufacturer's sporting affairs in Grand Prix racing, Yamamoto-san also allocated time to various championships in which Honda takes part, in his capacity as the company's motorsport boss.

As Honda ramps up its efforts in F1 with a supply deal spread across Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso, it has decided to create a new management role for Yamamoto with effect from April 1 and entirely dedicated to F1.

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"Yamamoto’s new role means that he will now focus solely on the Formula 1 operation, underlining just how important this project is to Honda, especially in its first year back supplying two teams on the grid," Honda said in a statement.

"Taking over the role of General Manager of Motorsport Department will be Hiroshi Shimizu, currently President of Honda de Mexico S.A. de C.V."

Since its return to F1 as an engine supplier to McLaren in 2015, Honda's F1 department has underwent several management changes.

Yasuhisa Arai and Yusuke Hasegawa left Honda's F1 programme, while IndyCar engineer Toyoharu Tanabe was nominated as Honda's technical director for 2018, working with Toro Rosso.

The changes have been beneficial with Honda's power unit making great strides in terms of both performance and reliability.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.