Japanese engine manufacturers Honda have finally bid adieu to F1 after an incredible championship-winning campaign in 2021. The Red Bull-Honda relationship pipped Mercedes to the title, a feat no other team has achieved since 2014. This announcement came back in 2020, and it sure didn’t change with Max Verstappen’s title.

Red Bull has taken over their engine needs this season, with backhand support from Honda. The Japanese giants provided engine services to Red Bull’s sister team, Alpha Tauri, as well. Driver duo Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda also had some impressive weekends in 2021, the former more often than the latter. The team was in an intense mid-field battle with Alpine through the 22-race calendar, one that they lost in the end.

For 2022, F1 is entering a new era with a major overhaul in regulations. Among a plethora of changes in the 2022 car, the engine will continue to be the same. However, there is a major development in that sector as well. Last season, F1 teams also mutually agreed to freeze the engine in 2022, in a quest to make the sport financially sustainable.

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Alpha Tauri boss Franz Tost recently opened up about Honda’s involvement in supplying power units to the team after their official exit from F1.

Honda is present in a similar capacity as 2021: AlphaTauri F1 boss Franz Tost

Alpha Tauri had a good outing at Circuit de Barcelona for the pre-season testing. Gasly and Tsunoda logged in 308 laps together in three days, so the team looks good on the mileage part. Team boss Franz Tost recently revealed the role of Honda in their power trains department even after the latter’s exit from F1.

Talking to Motorsport-Total.com, Tost said there is no drastic change in the Honda-Alpha Tauri relationship. “Not at the moment, because Honda is still involved with their people. We have almost the same people as last year. The engines are built in Sakura, Japan. In this respect, there is no difference. On the operational side, we do not expect any problems so far,” said Tost.

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Even Honda’s former project manager Masashi Yamamoto is still on board in a new role. “We have signed a contract with Red Bull Powertrains. At the request of Christian Horner and Helmut Marko, the company hired me as a supporter. Basically, it’s a bridge between Red Bull and Japan,” told Yamamoto, whose new firm acts as a bridge between Honda and Red Bull/Alpha Tauri.

Now, the teams will regroup again in two weeks’ time in Bahrain for the final round of testing ahead of the inaugural GP. The season comes with a lot of predictability. Where do you see Alpha Tauri finishing up at the end of 2022?

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