Honda to make F1 comeback in 2015

Honda will return to F1 in 2015

Honda have announced a return to Formula One as an engine supplier to McLaren in 2015. The move sees a return of a partnership that dominated the late 80s and early 90s, with 44 race wins and 4 drivers and constructors titles.

McLaren will continue to use Mercedes-Benz engines until the contract betweent he two organisations expires at the end of next season. Meanwhile, Honda's new 1.6 V6 engine is already in development at the company's R&D facility in Tochigi in Japan.

Honda were last in F1 in 2008

Honda last competed in F1 in the 2008 season as a full works team, withdrawing fromt eh sport at the end of that season. The Honda developed Brawn BGP 001 went on to claim both drivers and constructors titles a year later.

The new engine regulations were key to Honda's return. New low displacement, more eco-friendly engines will be adopted from 2014 onwards which is said to appeal to Honda as the technology can be transferred onto road cars.

Other teams, including Lotus, Williams and Sauber have also been linked to a swith to Honda engines, with the former two said to be unhappy with deals put forward by Renault. The French manufacturer is rumoured to be charging more than both Ferrari and Mercedes for their new engine package.

Honda's F1 return means that from 2015 there will be four engine suppliers (Honda, Ferrari, Mercedes and Renault). Cosworth are not expected to continue in F1 after the introduction of the new engine formula whilst Craig Pollock's PURE organisation suspended development of it's new powerplant midway through 2012.

Toyota, Volkswagen and Zytek are also rumoured to be building engines tot he new specifications.





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