Honda engines are still used in the Red Bull F1 cars. Photo: Photosport
Honda is to return to Formula 1 in a formal capacity in 2026 as engine partner for the Aston Martin team.
The company officially pulled out of F1 at the end of 2021 but its engines are still used by the two Red Bull teams.
Honda said that F1's pursuit of carbon-neutrality by 2030 was the "key factor" behind its decision to re-enter officially.
New rules for 2026 will increase the electrical performance of F1 engines.
The sport's governing body the FIA is mandating the use of fully sustainable synthetic fuels at the same time.
"In pursuit of its goal in achieving carbon neutrality by 2030, starting in the 2026 season the FIA will mandate the use of 100% carbon-neutral fuel and the deployment of electrical power will be increased significantly by three times from the current regulations," said Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe.
"With this massive increase in electrical power, the key to winning in F1 will be a compact, lightweight and high-power motor with a high-performance battery that is capable of swiftly handling high power output as well as the energy-management technology.
"We believe this know-how gained from this new challenge has the potential to be applied directly to a future mass-production electric vehicle."
-BBC
