Honda Racing F1

TEAM HONDA Team Drivers: Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello

Honda F1 came into the F1 scene in 1962. They took the racing world by storm when they became only the third team, behind Ferrari & BRM, to have their own chassis, engine and car.

Honda, even today, is one of the strongest engine suppliers, associating with Japanese cohorts Super Aguiri. Although, they are not connected to other teams currently, their legacy boasts of supplied engines for six Constructors’ championships as well as five Drivers’ championships (three of which were won by Ayrton Senna).

Honda had a short stint, between 1964 and 1968, before going into hibernation. It developed into one of the stronger engine manufacturers and suppliers, thereafter.

They returned to the sport in the early 80s, purely as an engine supplier - patterning with top-quality teams such as Lotus, McLaren, Williams and Tyrell. It had fast gained a reputation for its power, reliability and know-how.

The Japanese outfit have hired Ferrari man, Ross Brawn, for the 2008 season, as Team Principal. They are, in today’s scenario, only the fourth team to have their own engine, Ferrari, Toyota and Renault being the other three. Although they had much success in the 60s with a Grand Prix victory in just the second season but 2006 was more successful in terms of their Constructors’ standings.

Jenson Button has emerged as their frontline driver over the last five seasons (including seasons with BAR) - clinching as many as fourteen podium places - to go along with a superb victory at the Hungaroring in Budapest, Hungary in 2006. The staggering results churned out by the team in 2005 and parts of 2006 made the world sit up and take notice of Honda’s technological expertise and ability. Claims of their 2008 season being a letdown have risen as they notched up just 6 points in the 2008 season thus far. Their best result being a 5th spot at Shanghai.

Team Boss : Ross Brawn Races : 75 Race Wins : 3 Constructor’s Championships : 0 Engine : Honda V8 RA808E Chassis : RA108 - Honda Suspension : Showa Brakes : Alcon Carbon Tyres : Bridgestone Transmission : 7-speed unit + reverse Engine power : Over 18,500 rpm GearBox : 7-speed Honda, sequential, semi-automatic, hydraulic activation Weight : 605 kgs (including driver, camera and ballast) Dimensions : 4675mm x 1800mm x 950 mm Valves : 4 valves per cylinder; pneumatic valve system Total displacement : 2.4 litres Designer : Jorg Zander Chief engineer : Honda Racing Test driver : Alexander Wurz, Mike Conway, Luca Filippi