60 years since its maiden F1 victory, passion continues to drive Honda into the future.
In the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix, the Honda RA272 became the first Japanese car to win an F1 race, marking the beginning of Honda’s F1 challenge. This is where Honda’s motorsports story began.
Six decades on, the relentless dedication of the engineers who realized Honda’s first victory, the evolution of Honda’s F1 cars, its legendary drivers, and the continually honed engine technology, have each been an indispensable part of forming Honda’s dream.
At this milestone, the path so far takes on new meaning, and leads Honda toward new challenges.
The Journey of
Honda’s F1 Dream
Hiroshi Nakabe
In 1961, Honda, which had completely dominated two classes of the Road Racing World Championship, declared its next goal: to challenge the Formula 1 World Championship.
This is the journey of Honda’s founder, Soichiro Honda, in pursuit of his Formula 1 dream.
Grand Prix Digest
1964-1968Memories of
Honda’s First F1 Challenge
Grand Prix Digest
1964-1968Memories of
Honda’s First F1
Challenge
- ・1964：First-Time Challenger in F1
- ・1965：Striving for the First Victory
- ・1966：Struggling with 3L F1 Car Development
- ・1967：Partnering with a World Champion
- ・1968：Air-Cooled F1 Engine Emerges and Honda Ends F1 Activities
Three Essential Phrasesfrom Honda’s First F1 Era
In the 1960s, Honda ventured into an uncharted world of Formula One Grand Prix racing.
Through trial and error, Honda claimed two victories before ending its F1 activities mid-way to realizing its dream.
Here are the three essential phrases that were large factors in Honda’s F1 journey during this era.
Rediscovered
Race Documents
1959 - 1967
Historical documents discovered by chance chronicle Honda’s relentless drive for global supremacy in F1, F2, and motorcycle racing between 1959 and 1967. Long dormant and forgotten, these records are more than mere archives—they stand as a testament to Honda’s enduring spirit of challenge.
※This document was originally published in November 1968. Its content, including handwritten notes, is displayed as-is to preserve its original form.
Videos
Anniversary of
First F1 Victory
Honda F1 Results for All 35 Races
Honda was one of the first to challenge the pinnacle of motorsports
at a time when Formula 1 was still unknown to Japan.
Honda’s early F1 activities spanned 35 rounds over five seasons.
Race Wins
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Total
0
Race Starts
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Total
0
Podiums
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Total
0
Best Finish
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1st
Pole Positions
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Total
0
Best Grid
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PP
Points
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Total
0
Retirements
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Total
0
Fastest Laps
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Total
0
Laps Raced
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Total
0
Laps Led
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Total
0
Best Ranking
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Total
4st
- ※ Total Starts: race starts as constructor, / Total best finish, best grid, best ranking: best driver results / Other totals: totals of all drivers