Latest news with #RA272
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Red Bull F1 Team To Race With Amazing Honda Tribute Livery In Japan Before Jumping Ship To Ford
Red Bull Racing is bringing 1960s elegance from Honda's first stint in Formula 1 to Suzuka for this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix. The team's RB21 cars will be decked out in a Honda RA272 tribute livery, a retro scheme intended to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Honda's first F1 win and the final year of the automaker's partnership with Red Bull. The gesture carries a bit more meaning, as Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda will debut with the team at Suzuka. A Honda RA272, with American driver Richie Ginther behind the wheel, led every lap and won the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix. It was the first time a Japanese car had won an F1 race, a landmark moment for the country's fledging auto industry. In fact, Honda had only been building cars for two years at that point, with the S500 roadster debuting in 1963. The factory team would only win one more time before withdrawing from the championship after 1968. Read more: Red Bull Was Ready To Fire Christian Horner, But He Threatened Legal Action To Keep His Job: Report The RA272's striking livery was a product of its time. Sponsored liveries were banned from international competition until 1967, and F1 entries were required to compete with their car in specified national colors. As a Japanese team, Honda's car was obligated to be painted white with a red circle, mimicking the Japanese flag. The pearl white used on the RA272 is still offered by Honda on its modern models as Championship White. Red Bull's translation of the RA272 livery features a similar shade of white, differing only for weight reasons. The red sun remains at the front of the car, used as a number plate for Max Verstappen's No. 1 and Tsunoda's No. 22. The traditional red-and-yellow Red Bull logo is now metallic red on the engine cover. The modern Honda wordmark has also been swapped for the sans-serif wordmark used on the 1960s F1 car. The nosecone also features two small but meaningful additions: an era-accurate Honda logo and a decal commemorating the RA272's win. While both Red Bull and Honda are gracious in what their partnership was able to achieve, it's ending for a reason. The power unit deal reached a breaking point by 2020 over the team's lack of competitiveness. The narrative was flipped on its head after Verstappen won the championship in 2021, but it was too late to salvage the alliance long-term. Red Bull bought the engine's IP and rebranded it as a Red Bull Powertrains product ahead of the 2022 season. Red Bull will produce its 2026 power unit in-house with Ford support, while Honda will supply Aston Martin. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
The Independent
01-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Red Bull reveal striking new F1 livery in touching tribute for Japanese GP
Red Bull will sport a striking all-white livery at this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix in a tribute to engine partner Honda. Japanese F1 star Yuki Tsunoda will make his Red Bull debut this weekend, having replaced the axed Liam Lawson after the first two races of the 2025 season. Yet Tsunoda, having switched from the white of junior team Racing Bulls, will stay in white overalls this weekend as a nod to Red Bull's partnership with Japanese automotive giant Honda, who also back the 24-year-old driver financially. It is Honda's last year of working with Red Bull before they switch to an engine partnership with Aston Martin – reuniting with ex-Red Bull design guru Adrian Newey – for new engine and chassis regulations in 2026. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said: "Our relationship with Honda deserves celebration, it has been one of continued success and brought the team one of the most triumphant and dominant periods in our history. 'Max has won four world titles with a Honda power unit and the team have lifted two constructors' titles, in addition, Honda's reliability enabled to complete the most successful season in the sport's history in 2023. 'This livery is a tribute to Honda's success in the sport and the final year of, what has been a thoroughly enjoyable partnership. 'I am looking forward to seeing it out on track." The new livery is inspired by Honda's RA272 first victory in the sport, at the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix with Richie Ginther. A special logo commemorating 60 years since Honda's first win will also be displayed across all four Red Bull cars. Red Bull also sported an all-white livery at the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix, another tribute to Honda, in a year where the Japanese GP was not held due to the Covid pandemic. Tsunoda will be present alongside new teammate Max Verstappen, as well as Racing Bull drivers Lawson and Isack Hadjar, at a show-run event in Tokyo on Wednesday.
