Honda Restructures F1 Engine Program Amid Disappointing Performance

Honda has made changes to its Formula 1 engine program leadership after a disappointing return to the sport this season. The company, which previously won four world titles with Red Bull, is currently in last place in the constructors' championship, with Fernando Alonso's ninth-place finish at the Dutch Grand Prix being the team's best result.

Yoichiro Fukao has been appointed as the new Large Project Leader, replacing Tetsushi Kakuda. This organizational change is intended to facilitate the transfer of technical expertise to the next generation of engineers, especially with new regulations set to take effect in 2026 and further changes expected in 2027.

Despite introducing an engine upgrade at the Dutch Grand Prix, Honda's performance improvements have been minimal, falling short of Aston Martin's expectations. The current engine's performance is reportedly costing the team at least a second per lap. Honda's struggles are attributed to a lack of experienced engineers, as the company had previously downsized its F1 team before announcing its return in 2023.