Honda has likened Max Verstappen to Formula 1 icon Ayrton Senna as it bids an emotional farewell to its long-standing partnership with the Red Bull driver.
The collaboration between Honda and Red Bull officially concluded at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, marking the end of a seven-year alliance as the Japanese manufacturer prepares for its full factory return to Formula 1 with Aston Martin. From 2026, Red Bull will instead rely on its own in-house power unit, developed through Red Bull Powertrains in partnership with Ford.
Honda’s next chapter will see it reunite with renowned designer Adrian Newey, who has overseen the design of Aston Martin’s 2026 challenger and is also set to assume the role of team principal.
Reflecting on the end of the Red Bull era, Honda president Koji Watanabe expressed deep appreciation for Verstappen’s contribution to what became one of the most successful partnerships in recent F1 history. Together, Verstappen and Honda power secured four Drivers’ Championships and two Constructors’ titles.
Watanabe said the relationship thrived because both sides shared the same ambition of reaching the very top. He praised Verstappen not only for his driving ability, but also for his professionalism, honesty, and respect toward Honda’s engineers qualities he believes were central to the partnership’s success. While Honda is excited about its future projects, Watanabe admitted that closing the Red Bull chapter after seven years was an emotional and bittersweet moment.
During Honda’s golden era with McLaren in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Ayrton Senna claimed all three of his world titles, becoming a revered figure in Japan. According to Watanabe, Verstappen now enjoys a comparable status among Japanese fans.
He noted that Verstappen is hugely popular in Japan and closely associated with Honda in much the same way Senna once was. Watanabe added that Verstappen’s trust in Honda’s engineers and his attitude behind the scenes were a constant source of motivation, stressing that the Dutch driver will always hold a special place within the company’s history and hearts.
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