Honda explain upgrade Red Bull hope can take Max Verstappen to title over Lewis Hamilton

Max Verstappen reacts to Honda's departure from Formula 1

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Honda have revealed their final upgrade to their power unit as they target a Red Bull world title win over Mercedes. The Japanese manufacturers are set to leave the sport at the end of the 2021 campaign.

As it is their final year in F1, Honda installed their 2022 engine a year early in order to try and swing the title race in Red Bull’s favour. 

Red Bull are eyeing a first championship title since 2013, when Sebastian Vettel secured his fourth and final drivers’ championship. 

The new energy store was added to the Red Bull and AlphaTauri cars for the Belgian Grand Prix in Spa, and Honda declared the development will be the final major upgrade added to their 2021 engine before they leave the sport. 

“This new ES has been developed in a project that has taken several years, with an aim to combine improvements in energy efficiency with significant reductions in weight,” Honda F1’s head of PU development Yasuaki Asaki explained. 

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“In what will be the company’s final season in the sport, Honda F1 has managed to introduce the new ES – fitted with a lighter, low-resistance, highly efficient and ultra-high power battery cell – just in time for the start of the second half of the season.

“In order to achieve the ultimate goal of defeating Mercedes and winning the championship before leaving F1 at the end of the 2021 season, we recognised the need to enhance performance. 

“As such, the development plan for the new ES was brought forward substantially from the original goal of 2022 to introduction during the 2021 season.

“But the signs have been promising, after what was a huge amount of work to provide both performance and weight gains, the latter helping Red Bull optimise weight distribution.”

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After the energy store was added to the car, Max Verstappen took pole position and victory in the abandoned Belgian Grand Prix before securing a dominant win at his home race at Zandvoort.

The Dutchman led from the front after registering another pole position, but his run of form was ended after he collided with Lewis Hamilton and crashed out of the Italian Grand Prix. 

Honda praised their own effort in bringing the engine and respective upgrades forwards, and they believe it was only possible due to the manufacturer circumnavigating certain logistical issues.

The partnership with Honda’s road car battery team in Japan made the project possible, with the helpful team working with Honda F1 at Red Bull’s headquarters in Milton Keynes.

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Asaki believes the collaboration has led to technology which can be used safely on the road.

“Even after Honda leaves F1, this new battery technology will contribute hugely to Honda’s future technology to create a carbon neutral society, lead the advancement of mobility and enable people everywhere in the world to improve their daily lives,” he said.

Red Bull will produce their own engines – using Honda’s existing IP – from 2022 onwards.

Formula 1 returns with the Russian Grand Prix on September 26, with Verstappen holding a slender five-point lead over seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes. 

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