Breaking news
Formula 1
Honda rules out Toro Rosso engine deal
Honda has dismissed speculation it could give a last-minute deal to Toro Rosso for next season, as Red Bull's teams continue to work on trying to convince Ferrari to give it the engines they want.
Jonathan Noble
Edited: May 5, 2021, 4:38 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
With Red Bull boss Christian Horner having admitted that both the company’s teams are in a ‘critical’ situation regarding power supply for next year, there had been suggestions in recent days that Honda could step in.
If the Japanese manufacturer were to approve a plan to supply Toro Rosso with customer engines for 2016, that could then help convince Ferrari about doing a Red Bull deal as it would only need to give engines to one more team.
At the moment, Ferrari is reluctant to offer Red Bull and Toro Rosso anything more than updated 2015 engines because it is too late to sort out extra 2016 supplies.
Honda says no
Although a Honda supply deal with Toro Rosso would be the most logical solution, the Japanese company insists there is no change of plan to expand beyond its exclusive arrangement with McLaren for now.
Honda's motorsport chief Yasuhisa Arai has already repeatedly said that extra deals would come no earlier than 2017.
A Honda spokeswoman has confirmed that that position is unchanged, despite Red Bull's increasing desperation to find a way forward.
"As Arai-san has said, Honda has no plans of supplying a second team next year, and this has not changed," she said.
“As Honda have always said since returning to Formula 1, we are open to supplying additional teams in the near future.
"However, as it is very late in the 2015 calendar year to make such decisions, it is unlikely that we will be supplying any other teams for the 2016 season.
“The combination of a new power unit and a new chassis will require additional development from both parties.”
Rules change block
Honda’s insistence that it will not offer a customer deal for next year leaves Red Bull needing to finalise a Ferrari deal or risk not racing in F1 next year.
A last-second change of heart with Mercedes has been ruled out for good when the German car manufacturer officially agreed a deal with Manor.
Red Bull has insisted that it will not accept sub-standard engines for next year, and in theory, its only option to force Ferrari’s hand now could be through the rule book.
The Austrian team would be able to block a rule change that would allow old engines to be used, thereby ensuring it only gets current specification power units.
At the moment, a revised Article 28.5 of F1’s Sporting Regulation proposed by the F1 Commission, states: “Only power units which are identical to the power unit that has been homologated by the FIA in accordance with Appendix 4 of these regulations may be used at an Event during the 2016-2020 Championship seasons.”
Unless there is unanimous approval to change, it means that Ferrari would only be allowed to run power units that were identical to the works team – so could not offer year-old engines.
Red Bull could also block a change, backed by Ferrari, to allow in-season development next year now that the rules have been tweaked to ensure a February 28 date for homologation.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Arrivabene hails Ferrari's progress in 2015
Next article Suzuka was a race to forget for Red Bull, says Horner
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
More from
Red Bull Racing
Did Max Verstappen already know the impact of Red Bull’s big upgrade when he signed his new deal?
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
16 h
Did Max Verstappen already know the impact of Red Bull’s big upgrade when he signed his new deal?
Latest news
Lando Norris faces anxious wait as F2 prepares to decide future of his racing team
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
1 h
Lando Norris faces anxious wait as F2 prepares to decide future of his racing team
NASCAR Cup Phoenix starting lineup: Blaney earns pole as Larson struggles
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
2 h
NASCAR Cup Phoenix starting lineup: Blaney earns pole as Larson struggles
Ryan Blaney kind of faces a must-win scenario this weekend at Phoenix
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
2 h
Ryan Blaney kind of faces a must-win scenario this weekend at Phoenix
Catching Larson in the NASCAR Chase has to start at track where 'I suck'
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
3 h
Catching Larson in the NASCAR Chase has to start at track where 'I suck'
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe