This weekend`s Japanese Grand Prix will see Red Bull Racing sporting a special white livery as a mark of respect for their engine supplier, Honda.
The Suzuka race on Sunday will be the final Japanese Grand Prix for Red Bull powered by Honda, as their partnership is set to conclude at the end of this racing season.
The unique livery is also timed with Yuki Tsunoda`s first race for the team. Red Bull management decided to bring in the Japanese driver to replace Liam Lawson after Lawson`s less than impressive performances in the initial two races of the season.
The design of the livery is inspired by the 1965 Honda RA272, the car that brought Honda its first Formula 1 victory at the Mexican Grand Prix sixty years ago.
Koji Watanabe, president of Honda Racing Corporation, commented, “Seeing the RA272 tribute livery on the current Red Bull Racing car in the final year of our collaboration is deeply moving. Our successful journey together will forever be a highlight in F1 history.”
Red Bull previously used a white Honda-themed livery at the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix. This design was originally intended for the Japanese race that year, but the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Christian Horner, Red Bull team principal, stated, “Our partnership with Honda is worthy of celebration. It has been a period of continuous success, leading to one of the most dominant and victorious eras in our team`s history. Max has secured four world championships using a Honda power unit, and the team has won two constructors` titles. Furthermore, Honda`s reliability was crucial in our record-breaking 2023 season.”
Horner added, “This livery is a tribute to Honda`s achievements in Formula 1 and to our exceptionally rewarding partnership in its final year. I am excited to see it on the track.”
The official launch of the Red Bull livery will take place at a car meet in Tokyo on Tuesday evening, followed by a `showrun` event through the streets of the Japanese capital on Wednesday.
For the showrun, Yuki Tsunoda, Max Verstappen, and Racing Bulls drivers Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar will drive a Honda RA272, the RB16B (the car Verstappen won his first championship with), and two RB7 cars (championship-winning cars).
Honda is set to begin a new engine partnership with Aston Martin in Formula 1 next year, while Red Bull is developing its own power units in collaboration with Ford.
