Honda returned to Formula 1 in 2015 after a six-season absence as engine partner of the McLaren team, but both parties reached an agreement to sever their relationship after three difficult and unsuccessful years.
An initial deal with Toro Rosso in 2018 ensured Honda’s continuity in the series and paved the way for a tie-up with Red Bull the following year.
Honda announced in 2020 that it would leave F1 again at the end of 2021, a farewell that was eventually capped off with Max Verstappen’s drivers’ championship win in Abu Dhabi, marking the first title for a Honda -powered single-seater since 1991.
Button, now an expert analyst for Sky Sports F1 , was a McLaren-Honda driver during the 2015 and 2016 seasons, years in which his best finish was sixth. Button also drove for the factory Honda team during 2006-08, taking the team’s last win in 2006, as well as for its predecessor customer, BAR.
“I was with them at the beginning of this [V6 hybrid] project and it wasn’t easy for them,” Button told Motorsport.com .
“In the hybrid era, they had issues when they first came in. They were obviously a couple of years behind everyone else. [There were] a lot of reliability issues.”
“And I think it’s a shame that McLaren didn’t stick with them. It was very easy for them to point fingers when they weren’t competitive and they pointed to the least reliable part, which was the engine.
“But now with the vision that time gives you, working with a team like Red Bull and thanks to all their experience, it seems that they found a very good partnership.”
“It’s good to see Honda win again, because their last win before the Red Bull era was mine in 2006, and it’s been a long time since that. So it’s great to see them win.”
Red Bull will take over the operation of Honda ‘s power units and engines this year after forming its own Red Bull Powertrains division.
The Red Bull and AlphaTauri teams will continue to be supported by Honda for power unit supply next year before Red Bull Powertrains takes full responsibility for all manufacturing and servicing from 2023.
While Button felt it was a shame to see Honda leave F1 again, he appreciated the financial reality behind the decision.
“They are very passionate about racing and it’s a shame to see them go again,” said Button.
“But I have an idea of how much they’re spending, and it’s a lot of money, so I understand why they want to leave. Their time has come.”
“But they’ve had a fantastic year in the top flight and it’s unbelievable for them, because it hasn’t been the easiest journey for them,” concluded the British driver.
