Honda 'particularly disappointed' by Japanese GP cancellation

Honda says it is "particularly disappointed" by the cancellation of the Japanese Grand Prix, as the manufacture was looking forward to a final F1 outing on it home track at Suzuka.

Formula 1 confirmed on Wednesday the October 10 event's cancellation for a second year running due to the Covid-19 crisis.

Given Red Bull and Max Verstappen's strength this season, and local hero Yuki Tsunoda's presence with AlphaTauri, Honda was hoping for a climatic end in front of its home crowd to its current tenure in F1.

"It is unfortunate that, for a second consecutive year, it has not been possible to hold the Japanese Formula 1 Grand Prix at Suzuka," said Koji Watanabe, Chief Officer for Brand and Communication Operations at Honda.

"As Honda, we are particularly disappointed, because this is the final year of our Formula 1 project and we know that so many fans were looking forward to attending the event.

"The 2021 season is now heading for an exciting climax and we will be giving our all, fighting hard all the way to achieve our goal of winning the championships as this Honda Formula 1 project comes to an end and we hope our fans will continue to support us."

• Read also: F1 forced to scrap Japanese GP following Covid spike

Japanese Grand Prix promoter Mobilityland, which is owned by Honda, initially hoped to safeguard its race with a series of stringent sanitary measures and restrictions within a Formula 1 bubble at Suzuka.

But in light of the recent explosion of Covid cases in Japan, the country's government felt compelled to scrap the race.

"This was a very painful, regrettable and disappointing decision for us to have to make,” said Mobilityland’s President Representative Director Kaoru Tanaka.

"We had been preparing for and looking forward to holding the F1 Japanese Grand Prix for the first time in two years. But we simply have no choice but to cancel it.

"We worked long and hard to prepare for the event. And one of the big motivations was a strong desire to have everyone see the return home of Yuki Tsunoda, the first Japanese F1 driver in seven years and a final majestic figure of Honda F1 racing.

"It was an extremely painful decision for us to have to cancel the F1 Japanese Grand Prix for the second consecutive year. But from this moment onward, we will start preparing for next year’s F1 Japanese Grand Prix."

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