Honda: Joy after Verstappen's GP victory 🎥
MILESTONE IN HISTORY 60 years ago, Honda competed in the TT on the Isle of Man for the first time. On Sunday, Max Verstappen wrote another important sporting chapter in the company's history in Austria. The Dutchman's victory in the Austrian Grand Prix marked Honda's return to the top step of the podium as a partner of Red Bull Racing [...]
With the Dutchman's victory at the Austrian Grand Prix, Honda returned to the top step of the podium as a partner of Red Bull Racing. The fact that the Honda hybrid engine is ready for this success was already evident in the first half of the 2019 Formula 1 World Championship season, with seven places in the top four.
At the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg on Sunday, Max Vertappen brought Honda the long-awaited and longed-for triumph. The last one - Jenson Button on BAR-Honda at the 2006 Hungarian GP - was twelve years, ten months and 24 days ago.
60 years of Honda Racing
"If Honda does not race, there is no Honda!" Soichiro Honda, the founder of Honda, wrote himself into the racing history books with this quote. But not only. Since the first Honda start in the 125 cc class at the legendary TT Isle of Man in 1959, automobile and motorcycle racing have become part of the brand's DNA - one with which Honda has set records at every level, celebrated countless victories and continues to do so.
Eleven world championship titles and now 73 GP victories
In Formula 1, Honda Racing stands for five world championship titles for drivers (Nelson Piquet 1987, Ayrton Senna 1988, Alain Prost 1989, Ayrton Senna 1990 and 1991), six as a constructor (Williams-Honda 1986 and 1987, McLaren-Honda 1988 to 1991) and 73 Grand Prix victories, including the most recent one last weekend.
The dream of the Honda founder
For the CEO of Honda Motor Co, Ltd, the latest victory is an important confirmation and a great relief.
Takahiro Hachigo: "Since our return to the premier class in 2015, it has not always been easy to reach this point. First of all, I would like to thank and congratulate Max Verstappen and the Red Bull Honda Racing Team for this victory. But I would also like to thank Scuderia Toro Rosso and all the drivers who have supported the project with their skills and energy, as well as the other partners to whom this victory also belongs. Formula 1 was the dream of our founder Soichiro Honda. And it is part of our DNA. Now we are back in Formula 1, where leads. And above all, we share this dream with our fans and our customers."
Important technology transfer for the series
With the first victory in Formula 1 in the modern era, Honda proves the technological maturity of hybrid drive at the highest level. Energy recovery via the exhaust gases and the brakes are part of the hybrid system, with which the latest Honda F1 engine type RA619H generates up to 160 hp of additional power when required, while also reducing fuel consumption.
As complex as the F1 technology is, it is just as important for the transfer of experience and know-how to the engineers who are entrusted with the development of the production vehicles. In this way, it contributes to the implementation of Honda's strategy, which stipulates the complete electrification of new models on the European market by 2025.
The new Honda CR-V Hybrid, which is already available, will be followed in Europe by the new Honda Jazz Hybrid and the all-electric city vehicle, the new Honda e.
