28/08/2025 11:05
With Honda leaving Red Bull at the end of the F1 season to become
Aston Martin's works power unit partner, Max Verstappen faces the
prospect of fighting for a drivers' championship without the
Japanese marque for the first time in his career. Next year, when
F1 overhauls its power unit and chassis regulations, the Dutchman
will be vying for the title with his own team's engine in the back
of his car - presumably called the RB22. It will be a new
experience for the 27-year-old, who has won each of his four F1
drivers' championships with Honda power beneath him. However, as
time ticks down on Red Bull's relationship with the Japanese car
giant, the president of the Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), Koji
Watanabe, has expressed his desire to work with the 65-time grand
prix winner again in the future, as part of an exclusive interview
with RacingNews365 . Verstappen has been linked with a move to
Aston Martin, where he would follow not only Honda, but also
acclaimed and decorated designer Adrian Newey in making the switch
to the Silverstone squad. And, according to Watanabe, it would be a
"very exciting reunion" between driver and power unit provider.
"Yes, of course," he replied when asked if he would like to work
with Verstappen again. "Although we never know what will happen in
the future, if we could work again with Max Verstappen, whom we
have great respect for his fantastic talent and passion, it will be
a very exciting reunion." Honda rejoined F1 a decade ago, with
McLaren, and struggled. At the time, Fernando Alonso branded its
power unit a "GP2 engine" - an embarrassing episode for the
company, made worse by the remark coming at its home race in
Suzuka. But part of what makes Verstappen such an attractive driver
for Honda to work with is the instrumental role he has played in
helping turn its power unit into a winning one. "He played a very
important role in the power unit development," Watanabe explained.
"He has an extremely sensitive feel for the power unit and the
machine and is able to give precise feedback to engineers. It was
very helpful for us to develop the power unit." Two moments stand
alone That ability has helped create numerous highlights for the
Honda over the past seven seasons, when it first teamed up with Red
Bull, initially supplying its sister outfit. Watanabe picked out
two moments that sit on a pedestal above all others from their
partnership, the first of which had the twin reward of coming at
Red Bull's home race. "It is seven years since we started supplying
power units to Red Bull Racing in 2019, and eight years since we
started working with Toro Rosso, which is now VCARB, back in 2018,"
Watanabe reflected. "There were many memorable moments between us
and them. The most beautiful thing I remember is the first victory
with RBR at the 2019 Austrian Grand Prix. "I was in Austria at the
time, and I will never forget the excitement as Max Verstappen was
at the centre of the podium, pointing to the Honda logo on the
chest of his racing suit." However, Watanabe was sure to include
the first time the triad of Red Bull, Honda and Verstappen reached
the pinnacle of F1 together, concluding: "Of course, I will not
forget the dramatic win of his first world championship at the 2021
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix."
