Red Bull Racing will compete with a unique white livery at this weekend`s Japanese Grand Prix as a tribute to their engine partner, Honda.
Sunday`s race at Suzuka will be the last for a Honda-powered Red Bull in Japan, as their partnership is set to conclude at the end of this season.
The special livery will also mark Yuki Tsunoda`s debut with the team, following Red Bull`s decision to replace Liam Lawson after his first two races.
The livery is inspired by the 1965 Honda RA272, which earned Honda`s first Formula 1 victory 60 years prior at the Mexican Grand Prix.
Koji Watanabe, president of Honda Racing Corporation, stated, “It is quite moving to see the RA272 tribute livery on the latest Red Bull Racing machine, in the final year of Honda and Red Bull`s partnership. Our successful path will continue in F1 history.”
Red Bull last featured a Honda-themed white livery at the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix, originally planned for the Japanese race that year which was cancelled due to the pandemic.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner commented, “Our relationship with Honda deserves celebration, marking a period of continued success and one of the most dominant eras in our history. Max has secured four world titles with a Honda power unit, and the team has won two constructors` titles. Honda`s reliability was also key to our most successful season in 2023.”
“This livery is a tribute to Honda`s success in the sport and the final year of a thoroughly enjoyable partnership. I am eager to see it on track.”
Red Bull will launch the livery at an event in Tokyo on Tuesday evening, followed by a showrun in the city on Wednesday.
Tsunoda, Max Verstappen, and Racing Bulls drivers Lawson and Hadjar will participate in the showrun, driving a Honda RA272, Verstappen`s first title-winning RB16B, and two RB7s.
Honda will begin a new engine partnership with Aston Martin in Formula 1 next year, while Red Bull is developing its own power units with Ford.
Dominic Ashworth