Red Bull is set to pay tribute to departing engine supplier Honda at the Japanese Grand Prix. This marks the final Japanese Grand Prix weekend where Red Bull and Honda will collaborate before the engine manufacturer partners with Aston Martin in 2026. Yuki Tsunoda, who has been sponsored by Honda for many years, will make his Red Bull debut in a one-off special livery.
Since the early days of the racing team, Red Bull has used blue and red for their cars, but this will temporarily change during the Japanese GP. The RB21 will have a different look at Suzuka, featuring a striking white color for the car as a tribute to departing engine supplier Honda. It is expected that the RB21 will be entirely white, with the logo in red and blue accents on the front and rear of the car.
This is the last time Red Bull will race the Japanese Grand Prix with Honda as their engine supplier. From 2026, Honda will be partnering with Aston Martin. Starting next year, Red Bull, with the help of Ford, will begin developing their own engines through Red Bull Powertrains.
In addition to the special livery, the Grand Prix weekend in Japan is also particularly significant for Honda for another reason. Yuki Tsunoda will be making his debut for the Austrian racing team. Honda has been sponsoring the driver for many years and is reportedly also instrumental in Tsunoda’s promotion to Red Bull.
Grand Prix of Turkey
The last time Red Bull raced with a white livery was during the Grand Prix of Turkey in 2021. The livery was initially intended for use in the 2020 GP Japan, but that race was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The inspiration for the livery was the Honda RA272 car, with which Richie Ginter won Honda’s first Formula 1 victory in 1965. Red Bull has not yet announced what the livery for the GP Japan will look like.
