Honda F1: The Forgotten Story of Its First Team

We are used to seeing Honda F1 as an engine supplier, but few remember that the Japanese manufacturer once competed as a full constructor in the 1960s. Its first stint was relatively short, ending after the 1968 season.

When Honda entered F1 in 1964, at the time it was still a relatively young automobile manufacturer; the company had already established a strong reputation in motorcycle racing, but building a competitive F1 car presented an entirely different challenge for them.

Rather than supplying engines to an established European team, Honda chose to develop its own complete car.

This made the project ambitious, as the company had to master both engine and chassis design while competing against teams with more experience in the sport.

Honda’s first car, the RA271, made its debut at the 1964 German Grand Prix. Its distinctive engineering attracted attention in the paddock, while its arrival represented an important milestone for Japanese motorsport; a Japanese manufacturer competing in Formula 1 with its own factory team.

Honda’s Powerful V12 Engines

One of the greatest strength of Honda was the ability to produce, high-revving engines. Drawing on the technical knowledge developed through motorcycle racing, they created power units that were different from the engines used by their rivals in F1.

The early 1.5-litre V12 engine produced approximately 220 horsepower, depending on specification; it was a remarkably piece of engineering for a manufacturer still establishing itself in F1. When the championship introduced its new 3.0-litre engine regulations in 1966, Honda developed larger V12 power units to meet the challenge.

These engines offered impressive performance, particularly on circuits where straight-line speed was important, but power alone couldn’t guarantee success for them.

Richie Ginther Delivers Honda’s First Formula 1 Victory

Honda’s breakthrough arrived at the 1965 Mexican GP, American driver Richie Ginther delivered a superb performance in the RA272, securing the first win for the Honda F1 team.

The result was significant because it came during Honda’s second season in F1, and Ginther led every lap of the race.

The high altitude at Mexico City placed particular demands on engines, making the performance of Honda’s V12 especially impressive, and the victory gave the company international recognition, showing that its ambitions were more than just a publicity exercise.

For Ginther, an experienced driver, the victory represented the reward for his contribution to the developing project and Honda had finally shown that it could defeat big teams on the grid.

And it was the last race of the season that year, and this achievement also helped establish a fundation for the team’s next challenge, proving that its success could continue under the new regulations introduced in 1966.

John Surtees and the Famous Hondola

Honda’s strengthened its driver lineup in 1967 by signing John Surtees, one of the best competitors of his generation, he had already won the F1 championship in 1964 and was very successful in motorcycle racing, having also claimed world titles on two weels.

His arrival brought extra experience to the team, while Honda was still working to improve its cars.

With Surtees at the team, one of the defining moments of Honda’s came at the Italian GP in 1967. Driving the RA300, a car developed with assitance from Lola, Surtees won a dramatic race after a close battle at the front. The car became affectionately known as the ‘Hondola‘, reflecing the combination of Honda engineering and lola’s chassis expertise.

The victory was important for the team showing that Honda can achieve more when powerful engine was paired with amore competitive overall package, and Surtees helped the team turn its potential into another memorable championship result.

However, the success didn’t mean that Honda had solved every problem, they continued to face the technical and financial demands of competing in F1, while its parent company was increasingly focused on the future of its road car business.

The 1968 French Grand Prix – Honda F1 last dance

Honda’s original F1 story changed at the French GP at Rouen-Les-Essarts.

The team had introduced the experimental RA302, a car associated with company founder Soichiro Honda’s interest in air-cooled engine technology.

Unlike the established water-cooled approach, the new design was intended to explore an alternative engineering solution that Honda believed could have wider applications.

But the project was controversial within the team, John Surtees had serious concerns about the car’s safety and reportedly refused to race it after testing it.

Despite the concerns, the RA302 was entered for the French GP, with French driver Jo Schlesser.

During the 1968 French Grand Prix, Jo Schlesser lost control of the experimental Honda RA302 on the second lap, resulting in a serious incident that raised further concerns about the car’s design and the direction of the project. The incident added to the difficulties Honda was already facing as it reconsidered its priorities and future in motorsport. At the end of the 1968 season, the Japanese manufacturer withdrew its factory team from Formula 1, bringing its first chapter as a constructor to a close after five seasons of competition.

Why Did Honda Leave Formula 1 After 1968?

Honda’s withdrawal wasn’t simply a reaction to disappointing racing results.

The company was entering an important period of expansion and needed to decide where its engineering resources would have the greatest long-term impact.

During the late 1960s Honda was working to establish itself as a serious global automobile manufacturer rather than remaining primarily known for motorcycles. The American market was particuarly important, and the company faced growing demands to develop road cars that could meet increasingly strict emissions and safety requirements.

These challenges required more financial resources, continuing the F1 programme was difficult for Honda at the time.

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Honda’s First Formula 1 Chapter Was Only the Beginning

Honda’s departure at the end of 1968 marked the end of its first attempt to compete as a full factory constructor, but it didn’t erase what the team had achieved.

The victories of Richie Ginther and John Surtees proved that Honda was able to fight big teams in F1.

When Honda returned to F1 in the 1980s as an engine supplier, it approached the championship with experience and gained from its earlier adventure. Its partnership with Williams and McLaren would eventually lead to championship success and establish Honda as one of the sport’s most influential engine manufacturers.

The first Honda F1 team may have disappeared after 1968, but its story remains an important part of the company’s motorsport heritage.

Featured Image Credits: Honda RA272 (1965) at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show, by Semnoz, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Ensign F1: The Forgotten Team That Tried and Vanished