Honda says it has received calls from "multiple F1 teams" to discuss a 2026 engine supply deal as it weighs its options regarding its future in the sport.
The Japanese company is one of six manufacturers to have registered with the FIA and indicated its interest in producing a next-generation power unit for Formula 1 based on the set of regulations that the sport will introduce in 2026.
Honda's current partner, Red Bull, will rely in three years' time on its own power unit developed in-house by Red Bull Powertrains with input from brand partner Ford.
That leaves Honda without a team from 2026, but there is no lack of interest in its product according to Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe.
However, while it has indicated its interest in remaining in F1 from 2026, Honda is still considering its future involvement based on Grand Prix racing's evolution in the coming years.
"Formula 1 is greatly shifting towards electrification, and carbon neutrality is our corporate-wide target at Honda," Watanabe said in a press conference on Monday in Japan.
"We think that F1's future direction is in line with our target, so that is why we have decided to register as the manufacturer of a power unit.
"We're curious about where F1 is going; F1 being the top racing category and how is that going to look with more electrification happening?
"We would like to keep a very close eye on that. And that is why we have decided to register as a PU manufacturer.
"After we made the registration, we have been contacted by multiple F1 teams.
"For the time being, we would like to keep a close eye on where F1 is going and just see how things go. For now, we don't have any concrete decisions on whether or not we will be going back to joining F1.
"But, from the perspective of technological development, we think that knowing that this is being part of F1 is going to help us with technological development. So that is where we are."
McLaren and Williams – who are both currently powered by Mercedes - come to mind as two possible candidates for a Honda engine supply deal.
Recently, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner hinted at Honda's indecisiveness regarding its future in F1 as the reason for the energy drink company ceasing its collaboration with its partner.
Watanabe did not offer any additional insight into the matter but when asked why discussions had failed between the two parties, he said: "It was not a failure. We never really saw that as any failure of any sort.
"As a technical partner, we're always in contact with Red Bull. So, there are many topics that we discuss and many that we have discussed.
"But out of this dialogue, it was decided that we will not continue this partnership beyond 2025. So, there's nothing that's fixed from 2026. It is as simple as that."
©RedBull
After Honda's decision to officially leave F1 at the end of 2021, although it continued in the background to supply Red Bull, the company's name and logo reappeared on Red Bull and AlphaTauri's cars at last year's Japanese Grand Prix.
This year, the Honda name has been added once again to its power unit label.
"As a symbol of continued partnership with Red Bull group, both team's machines will continue to carry Honda and the HRC logos, and it has been decided that the name Honda will be added to the PU manufacturer's name and power unit name," said Watanabe.
"The PU manufacturer name will be changed to Honda RBPT. And the power unit name will be changed to Honda RBPT H001 for the 2023 season."
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