Honda is back to the FIA Formula One World Championship

Martin Whitmarsh (Left) Takanobu Ito (Right) (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

Good news from Honda, here is something good that everyone wants to hear about it, especially for the Honda fans. TOKYO, Japan, May 16, 2013 - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Official announced that in 2015 Honda will become part of legendary McLaren. As we know, Honda was one of the most powerful engine supplier for the Formula One. We know legendary F1 pilot Ayrton Senna, who was pilot of the McLaren that powered by Honda engines. 


Now Formula One is changing their regulations for the 2015 season. Current regulation that means 2.4 V8 engine will be changed to the next season. FIA going to make new step and change everything, for the 2015 season regulations, we will see 1.6 Liter direct injection turbocharged V6 engines and energy recovery system. Honda will make new engines and energy recovery systems, McLaren will make chassis. For the 2015 season McLaren name changed to McLaren Honda.

For more information click to the official McLaren site below
McLaren-Honda: reuniting one of the greatest partnerships in Formula 1 history

Takanobu Ito, President and CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. said: 
"Ever since its establishment, Honda has been a company which grows by taking on challenges in racing. Honda has a long history of advancing our technologies and nurturing our people by participating in the world's most prestigious automobile racing series. The new F1 regulations with their significant environmental focus will inspire even greater development of our own advanced technologies and this is central to our participation in F1. We have the greatest respect for the FIA's decision to introduce these new regulations that are both highly challenging but also attractive to manufacturers that pursue environmental technologies and to Formula One Group, which has developed F1 into a high value, top car racing category supported by enthusiastic fans. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Mr. Jean Todt, the President of FIA and to Mr. Bernie Ecclestone, the CEO of Formula One Group who showed great understanding and cooperation to help realize our participation in F1 racing. The corporate slogan of Honda is "The Power of Dreams". This slogan represents our strong desire to pursue and realize our dreams together with our customers and fans. Together with McLaren, one of the most distinguished F1 constructors, Honda will mark a new beginning in our challenges in F1."

Martin Whitmarsh, CEO of McLaren Group Limited said:
"The names of McLaren and Honda are synonymous with success in Formula One, and, for everyone who works for both companies, the weight of our past achievements together lies heavily on our shoulders. But it's a mark of the ambition and resolve we both share that we want once again to take McLaren Honda to the very pinnacle of Formula One success. Together we have a great legacy – and we're utterly committed to maintaining it."

Jean Todt, President of FIA said: 

"I am very happy to hear about Honda's important decision to return to Formula One with McLaren from 2015. The introduction of the new power train next year, in the form of a 1.6 litre, 6 cylinder engine with direct injection and energy recovery, is a very exciting challenge and demonstrates a vision for the future of the sport. I am sure that Honda will become a strong contender in the years to come."

At a glance, the McLaren-Honda partnership in numbers:

• 5 years of partnership – 1988 to '92

• 80 grands prix starts

• 53 pole positions – a 66 per cent strike rate

• 44 victories – a 55 per cent win rate

• 30 fastest laps – 10 in 1988 alone

• 8 world championships – drivers’ titles for Ayrton Senna (1988, 1990, 1991) and Alain Prost (1989), and constructors’ titles in 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991

• 3 race-winning engine configurations – 1.5-litre turbo V6, 3.5-litre naturally aspirated V10, 3.5-litre naturally aspirated V12

History of Honda Participation in F1 Racing:
1964 - 1968: Participated as an "all Honda" team including both the engine and chassis
1983 - 1992: Participated as an engine supplier (Won both the driver's and constructors' championship titles for four consecutive years from 1988 through 1991)
2000 - 2005: Participated as an engine supplier and joint developer of the chassis
2006 - 2008: Participated as an "all Honda" team including both the engine and chassis

2006 Honda RA106 (Left), 1988 McLaren Honda MP4/4 (Center) and 1965 Honda RA272 (Right). AFP PHOTO / TOSHIFUMI KITAMURATOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images