HONDA The Power of Dreams

After overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic, the F1 world was in the midst of a tumultuous period. In 2020, Red Bulls took the battle to the invincible Mercedes team, but in October, Honda announced it would end its fourth F1 era in 2021, which gave Honda only one year to win the title it had always wanted.

HRD Sakura’s development team completed the RA621H power unit with a new framework for this final year of activity, which was introduced in pre-season testing. The short development period had raised concerns about reliability, but were unfounded, and the unit was put to work in both Red Bull, and both AlphaTauri cars from the opening round.

The RA621H was the culmination of Honda’s F1 technology, with a high compression ratio and more efficient combustion to increase power, and a frame that was strong enough to withstand the increased performance, while also reducing weight. The use of completely new materials and construction raised concerns about durability and reliability, but after repeated round-the-clock testing, the engine was ready in time for the season-opener. Yasuaki Asaki, the development director, described the completion of the project as “truly miraculous.” It was not easy to develop a new framework and new technology ahead of schedule and complete the power unit, which was originally slated for a 2022 introduction.

The RB16B powered by the new power unit was an upgraded version of the newly introduced machine from the previous year, with a significantly improved rear suspension to deal with sudden and unstable behavior. Red Bull also requested Honda to shave the lower part of the head cover brace to tighten the car’s appearance and improve its aerodynamic performance. These aerodynamic updates, combined with the increased performance of the power unit, improved the overall potential of the car from race to race, and the fierce battle for the championship with the reigning champion, Mercedes, would unfold.

The evolution of the RB16B / RA621H demonstrated the package’s potential from the opening round. Max Verstappen took pole position and finished second in a close race, and the fight was on for an epic championship battle with the victorious Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton led the early part of the season, Verstappen took the lead mid-season with numerous wins, and then Hamilton closed in due to Mercedes' updates in the closing stages. Verstappen had won nine races, and Hamilton eight, and both drivers entered the final round in Abu Dhabi tied on championship points. Verstappen took pole position, but Hamilton continued his strong pace and led the race. However, in the final laps of the race, a safety car was deployed after an accident, and the race came down to the last lap. Verstappen, who had already changed tires, boldly attacked Hamilton and took the lead. His dramatic victory was his 10th win of the season and his first drivers’ championship.

Honda concluded its fourth F1 era with its long-cherished dream: winning the championship. This was the first time for Honda to win the constructors’ title in 30 years, since 1991 when it won the title with Ayrton Senna.