Honda and Red Bull's eight-year partnership comes to an end. Honda will start a collaboration with Aston Martin.

[PCauto] From the low point in 2015, marked by the derisive "GP2 engine" remark, to achieving 72 wins, four drivers' championships, and two constructors' championships, the eight-year partnership between Honda and Red Bull has written one of the most legendary comeback stories in modern F1 history.

However, with the conclusion of the 2025 season, they will part ways, with Red Bull turning to Ford and Honda setting its sights on Aston Martin.

The Beginning of the Honda and Red Bull Partnership

Looking back at the start of this partnership, it is hard to forget the piercing "GP2 engine" remark uttered by Fernando Alonso at the Suzuka circuit in 2015.

At that time, Honda was at a low ebb in its collaboration with McLaren. Faced with external criticism and internal setbacks, no one could have predicted the incredible turnaround that would come over the next eight years. When this collaboration failed in 2017, Honda was even on the brink of leaving F1 altogether.

However, destiny took a crucial turn at this juncture when Red Bull, equally frustrated by Renault's power units, extended an olive branch, enabling both parties to find a mutual way out of their predicaments.

Looking back now at the trial strategy initiated with Toro Rosso in 2018, it is easy to see why many consider it one of the most successful technical gambles in F1 history.

Honda introduced a redesigned power unit with a split turbo system in a midfield car, achieving a fourth-place finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix and amassing 33 points by season's end —surpassing its previous performance with McLaren.

Although accompanied by significant penalties due to accelerated development, Honda was clearly on the right track.

After officially joining forces with Red Bull in 2019, the partnership achieved its first breakthrough. They reached the podium in the season opener, and the home race in Austria marked their first victory since Honda's return; several subsequent wins laid the foundation for a steady upward trajectory.

Despite the 2020 season being shortened by the pandemic, Honda seized the opportunity, securing three more victories and laying the technical groundwork for future competition with Mercedes.

What truly cemented this partnership's place in F1 history was the 2021 championship battle. That year, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton traded wins, remaining neck-and-neck at the top of the standings until the final showdown in Abu Dhabi.

Ultimately, thanks to a late safety car and a dramatic last-lap overtake, Verstappen secured his first world championship, making Honda a championship-winning power unit supplier again after a 30-year wait.

Although the race's conclusion was controversial, Verstappen's streak of three consecutive championships from 2022 to 2024 proved that his competitiveness did not rely on luck.

The 8-Year Achievements of Honda and Red Bull

The statistics showcase the brilliance of these eight years: 172 starts, 72 victories, 141 podium finishes, 51 pole positions, and a total of 4,545.5 points. Besides Verstappen, Sergio Pérez claimed five wins, and Pierre Gasly delivered an unforgettable surprise victory at the 2020 Italian Grand Prix.

Honda also specifically highlighted 73 retirements in its official data, perhaps as a reminder that success is never flawless but is built on the resilience and experience gained from repeated failures.

Even after announcing its withdrawal from F1 after the 2021 season, Honda continued to support Red Bull Powertrains technically, enabling Red Bull to maintain its lead in the closing phase of the hybrid era.

Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner also stated multiple times during the 2025 Abu Dhabi weekend: "Honda has played a key role in our championships and victories, and I extend my sincerest gratitude to them." This evaluation comes not only from the results but also from the trust built between both parties through trials and tribulations.

The New 2026 Regulations Bring an End to Their Partnership

However, with the upcoming new Power Unit regulations in 2026, structural differences have emerged in the partnership between the two parties.

The new rules will increase the electrical power output, eliminate the MGU-H, and mandate the use of sustainable fuels, meaning power units will need to be redeveloped from scratch.

In order to gain an advantage in future competition, Red Bull has chosen to rely on Red Bull Powertrains to independently develop a new engine and partner with Ford to create the 2026 power unit.

Honda, on the other hand, aims to continue as a full works supplier under the new regulations and has shifted to establish a new technical partnership with Aston Martin.

Their differing technical roadmaps and brand strategies made continuing the partnership unrealistic.

From the derided "GP2 engine" to reclaiming championship glory, and now parting ways due to a new regulatory era, the eight-year story of Honda and Red Bull concludes on a high note. Moving forward, Red Bull and Ford, as well as Honda and Aston Martin, will embark on their respective new chapters.