Honda wants to supply second team in 2018

Japanese manufacturer Honda have had a long and successful history with Formula One.

They have acted as both an engine supplier and a fully fledged manufacturer over the years since 1964 when they made their debut.

They have won 69 races as an engine supplier, with 23 Grand Prix victories for Williams between 1983 and 1987, 2 with Lotus between 1987 and 1988 and 44 with McLaren between 1988 and 1992.

After spells supplying Tyrrell, BAR, Jordan, Super Aguri they returned as a manufacturer in 2006 for the first time since 1968.

The return lasted three years before the team was sold to Brawn in 2009 and the team won both the drivers championship with Jenson Button and the constructors title.

In 2015 they returned to the sport to partner McLaren once again, the move has not proven successful thus far and the Japanese manufacturer would like to supply a second team to improve their fortunes of competing with Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault.

[May is] when Red Bull and Toro Rosso announced they would use the Renault engine this year.

‘That is the latest timing for us [for 2018] but the earlier we know, the better.’ Chief Yusuke Hasegawa told Autosport.

Hasegawa confirmed that there has been some interest from teams to take Honda power-units for 2018.

‘Now we are discussing the possibility of cooperation and the chance to supply the engine but so far, there is no fixed negotiation, There has been informal interest. They are very kind to show some level of interest.

‘We have to prove we can show a decent step in the performance of the Honda engine.