HONDA The Power of Dreams

I became involved in track-side operations 2018 as Technical Director for Honda’s fourth F1 era operations. This was a pivotal moment as Honda was restructuring its F1 operations and beginning to supply power units (PUs) to Toro Rosso. Before this, I had been working at Honda Performance Development (HPD) in the U.S. on the IndyCar program, so while I wasn’t deeply familiar with Honda’s fourth F1 era, I was aware of the challenging circumstances and could sense the pressure. Regarding the move to F1, I had mixed emotions. I was a bit hesitant as there were still unfinished tasks in the U.S., but I was also thrilled and grateful for the opportunity to challenge myself in F1 once again.

In reality, the situation was not good, so I was anxious, wondering what to do and how to do it. At first, I could not see what needed to be done nor what I was capable of, and I knew the challenge was extremely big, so I also feared that I may fail.

During pre-season tests and once the season began, we initially spent a lot of time and effort addressing issues and resolving problems. We gradually shifted our focus to improving performance, and this progress became evident in tangible results, both in terms of lap times and the drivers’ feedback. As a result, we and the team members started to feel more positive. In that sense, I believe the 2018 season marked a significant step forward for Honda.

The most significant moment for me in 2018 was at Round 2, Bahrain. Although the developmental phase was far from complete, Pierre Gasly finished fourth, which greatly energized the team and gave us a sense of confidence and unity, making us feel that we could do it. I believe this result early in the season had a huge impact on us.

Beginning in 2019, we would supply power units to Red Bull. Although we had already made significant progress, working with a top team like Red Bull meant that we would face tougher challenges, higher demands, and speed, while appropriately meeting their demands. The pressure was enormous. We were well aware that there was still a lot of room for improvement, but we had reached the stage in development where we could focus on enhancing performance and reliability, so we could look forward to good results by partnering with a top-tier team, which was very emotionally positive, and we looked forward to it.

In 2019, Honda took various measures to improve performance, and the results were evident, the races did not always go as planned. Despite this, we finally achieved our first victory in Round 9, the Austrian Grand Prix. I was speechless. I was waiting below the podium with the team for the ceremony to begin, and when I looked up, someone told me to climb up on podium. That’s when I snapped out of it. Of course, this was my first time on the podium, and I had no idea what to do. I just followed the instructions of the FIA officials, but it was a very valuable and joyful moment.

Since then, as a member of a team aiming for title victory, every race was tough. There was COVID-19, the decision to end F1 activities, the introduction of a new chassis, and then the title win. It wasn’t smooth sailing by any means. But track-side, despite the challenges, we kept improving every year, achieving results in both performance and reliability, and that gave me a sense of fulfillment.

Then, in 2021, Honda’s final year in F1, Max Verstappen secured the title in the very last race. It was a closely contested season with tough battles throughout, but the joy of achieving this goal was immense. Personally, I gained a deeper understanding of the importance of perseverence, no matter what. Red Bull’s race strategy involved constantly thinking about what the situation is now, and what needs to be done under what circumstance to win. They considered how to respond to unexpected incidents or sudden changes, and they planned for every possible scenario. I also felt a strong determination to win, no matter what it took, up until the very end.

The Red Bull team is made up of highly experienced experts in their fields, who of course have a high technical level, and since they have been working together for many years, the people in charge of each area know each other well and decision-making is fast. There is no procrastination. They know what to do. The speed of communication and decision-making was truly impressive. And everyone loves Red Bull. From the top, down to the staff level, there is a strong commitment to victory and a strong focus on the future. This is deeply ingrained in every person involved. I realized that these are some of the key elements that make a top-tier team.

On the other hand, Red Bull also had a very friendly side. While they were strict about technology, there was a sense of unity that emerged when we shared the common goal of winning. This unity was both the technical and as teammates sense, and I found the work tough, but very enjoyable.

Through working with Red Bull, Honda was able to learn much. As an engineer, there were certainly many technical details to learn, but more importantly, I was reminded of the importance of pushing to the limit and persevering. In pursuing victory, what specifically does “committed to winning” mean? One commitment is to think problems through relentlessly, and I believe I was reminded of this. I believe that Honda’s young engineers and track-side staff have also gained a lot from this mindset.