As the partnership between Honda and Red Bull Racing draws to a close, former Torro Rosso team boss Franz Tost reflects on the remarkable journey of the Japanese engine manufacturer in Formula 1. The ex-team boss emphasizes the crucial contribution the Japanese made to the Red Bull era. Honda is now preparing for a new partnership with Aston Martin starting in 2026.
Franz Tost begins his retrospective at the beginning: the discussions with Honda about a possible collaboration with the Austrian racing team. “It was 2017 and there was an exhibition in London. We were already in talks with Honda. Then people from McLaren came up to me and asked: ‘What do you want to achieve with Honda?'” recalls the 69-year-old Austrian. “I told McLaren: ‘Keep quiet, and we’ll talk again in five years.’ The fact is that those people had disappeared five years later, while Honda became a success in Formula 1.”
Honda’s Previous Partnerships and Achievements
Prior to its collaboration with Red Bull, Honda had partnered with McLaren. The years with the British racing team (2015-2017) were decidedly challenging for Honda, but according to Tost, the problem was not solely with the engine. “It didn’t work because there was no collaboration or knowledge sharing – McLaren kept everything to themselves,” Tost explains. “With us, there was an immediate connection. 2018 was a tough year, but in 2019 they won their first race with Red Bull. And the rest of the story is well known.” The victory in Austria in 2019, with Max Verstappen at the wheel, marked the beginning of a new chapter for Honda. Ultimately, the collaboration yielded multiple world titles in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Honda’s Vision for Motorsport
Tost not only praises Honda’s technical development but also their vision for motorsport. “Motorsport is part of the company’s philosophy,” says Tost. “This is due to Honda’s founder – he wanted to use motorsport as a way to train engineers in an extremely competitive environment before they returned to the factory. That philosophy still holds true today. And I must say: it was a fantastic collaboration.”
