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Honda believes that a closer partnership with Japanese firm IHI will lead to gains in its Formula 1 turbochargers.
Honda has worked with IHI since it returned to the championship in 2015, but has strengthened that relationship under their new deal covering 2019 and 2020.
“IHI is well established in the field of rotating machinery technology, which it has developed through its shipbuilding and steam turbine business, which was established back in the 19th century,” noted Katsuhide Moriyama, Honda’s chief officer of brand and communications.
“We expect this partnership to produce a notable step up in performance. Together, we will keep pushing to fight for wins.”
IHI’s Yoshinori Kawasaki, its vice president of industrial systems and general-purpose machinery business area, said, “We are happy to enter into this partnership with Honda, one of the best engine manufacturers in the world.
“Through this new technical partnership, our aim is for the Honda PU to deliver the best possible performance, by accelerating development of the turbocharger.
“We hope that as from the 2019 season, Honda’s Power Unit, using the IHI turbocharger, will deliver the sort of performance that thrilled motor sport fans back in the 80s and 90s.”
Next year is a crucial one for Honda as it expands its engine deal from Scuderia Toro Rosso to also supply the senior Red Bull Racing team, replacing Renault.
In almost five seasons back in F1 to date, its best race result is a fourth for Pierre Gasly at Bahrain in April this year.
