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• Honda will leave F1 as an engine supplier in late 2021.
• The automaker says it is pursuing a green future.
• Honda’s decision could and will negatively affect F1.
• For more motorsports stories, visit www.Wheels24.co.za
Honda’s shocking decision to leave Formula 1 is a “middle finger” for the sport.
That’s the opinion of Juuso Taipale, just one journalist who has reacted to Friday’s news that Red Bull and Alpha Tauri are now on the hunt for a new supply of engines for 2022 and beyond.
“Honda’s decision is F1’s middle finger,” Taipale wrote in the Iltalehti newspaper.
Writing in La Repubblica, Alessandra Retico agrees: “Honda’s decision shakes F1 up. The Japanese will not give up racing entirely, so if the goal is to achieve zero emissions, Formula 1 is moving in the direction wrong “.
In fact, Honda has simultaneously agreed to a new deal to stay with Indycar.
The company said in a statement: “As the automotive industry undergoes a period of great transformation of once in a hundred years, Honda has decided to strive to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.”
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New motor partner
Der Spiegel’s Marcus Kramer reacted: “Red Bull has to find a new partner engine, which alone already threatens F1. But Honda’s departure also shows that the series is very poorly positioned when it comes to climate issues “.
Alexey Popov is the F1 commentator for Russian broadcaster Match TV, and he said: “This is very bad for F1 in general, because we don’t have many manufacturers anymore. There were four, and in a year and a half, there will be three. The chances of someone new getting in are virtually nil.
READ: Honda announces its exit from Formula 1 at the end of the 2021 season
Writing for the Belgian news agency Sporza, Kris Wauters commented: “It is clear that F1 is not fully in sync with developments in the automotive world. F1 policy makers now have to think hard. There is already an alternative with Formula. E, could we see a merger in 5-10 years? “
It’s also unclear what Red Bull will do to fill the void, but Honda CEO Takahiro Hachigo at least confirms that the company remains fully committed for 2021.
He said: “We are doing our best to win more races. We will build a new engine for 2021 so that we can win races together with Red Bull. Our goal remains the same: we want to become world champions together.”
