Honda Aiming for Return to F1 for 2026 Regulations Era

• Friday's Announcement of Ford joining forces with Red Bull for the 2026 era of Formula 1 power units makes a crowded field of manufacturers even more so.

• Honda, which left Red Bull and the Formula 1 series following the 2021 season, curiously has registered with Formula 1 as a power unit provider for the 2026 new regulations era.

• Unless it forms a works team, which it has shown no hints at doing, expect Honda to align with an existing team before long.

Honda has formally registered as a power unit supplier for the next cycle of Formula 1 engine regulations.

Formula 1 and the FIA last year laid out its framework for the next set of power unit regulations, which will run from 2026 through at least 2030. The power unit will be V6 internal combustion engines, featuring a similar performance level to the current units, with an increase in electrical deployment, and utilizing fully sustainable fuel.

The four existing suppliers—Mercedes, Red Bull Powertrains, Ferrari and Renault— have all signed up albeit with two running under different names.

Here's where F1 stands for power unit providers for 2026:

• Renault’s engine will be branded as Alpine—reflecting the chassis name change enacted in 2021—while Red Bull Powertrains has been entered as Red Bull-Ford.

That comes after Friday’s news that Ford will return to Formula 1 from 2026 to provide technical expertise to the first in-house power unit designed by Red Bull Powertrains.

• Red Bull Powertrains will supply both Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri with engines under the Red Bull-Ford name.

• Audi, which confirmed last August that it will enter Formula 1 and act as Sauber’s strategic partner, has been listed as expected.

• Ferrari and Mercedes, as expected, have register.

• The sixth power unit manufacturer to have registered with the FIA is Honda—though how and where it will be involved is unknown.

Take note that General Motors is not listed as a power unit supplier. It plans to enter Formula 1 using its Cadillac brand, in association with Andretti, and collaborate with an existing power unit manufacturer. That is, IF the entry is granted by the FIA and Formula 1.

Honda has had a convoluted history in Formula 1 after fragmented spells as both a works team and engine supplier. It withdrew its works involvement after 2008 but returned to Formula 1 in 2015 as a partner to McLaren, before switching to Toro Rosso, and eventually Red Bull Racing.

Honda officially quit the sport after the 2021 season and the newly-formed Red Bull Powertrains division took over the Honda engine with technical support from the manufacturer.

That partnership, initially intended to last only a brief transitionary period, was last year extended through 2025, and Honda logos returned to both Red Bull and AlphaTauri cars late in 2022.

With Red Bull aligning with Ford from 2026-2030 it means Honda’s current partner, and most obvious destination, is no longer a possibility. It means Honda will either need to form a partnership with an existing team, form its own works team—which it has not indicated as a possibility—or strike an agreement with any prospective new entrant that is striving to join Formula 1.

Given the complexity of forming an engine department, developing the infrastructure, and hiring the right personnel, time is already slipping away from Honda.

Porsche, which held advanced talks over collaborating with Red Bull Powertrains before they broke down over control issues, has not registered with the FIA.

“The confirmation that there will be six Power Unit manufacturers competing in Formula 1 from 2026 is testament to the strength of the championship and the robust technical regulations that have been diligently created by the FIA in close collaboration with Formula 1 and the Power Unit manufacturers,” said FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

“The Power Unit is at the forefront of technological innovation, making the future of Formula 1 more sustainable while maintaining the spectacular racing. I am grateful for the confidence of world-leading automotive manufacturers demonstrated by their commitment to Formula 1.”