Honda strengthens ties with IHI in turbocharger deal

Honda’s Formula 1 operations have announced a new two-year technical partnership arrangement with IHI Corporation to help it develop its turbocharger in its power unit.

The Japanese manufacturer has worked with IHI on its turbocharger since its return to F1 in 2015 with McLaren and the new deal aims to ‘accelerate the development of the power unit’ ahead of 2019.

Since splitting from McLaren at the end of 2017 after three unsuccessful years, Honda’s new partnership with Toro Rosso has been met with positive progress while the Japanese manufacturer prepares to bolster its commitments by supplying Red Bull from next season.

Honda chief Katsuhide Moriyama has already predicted a sharp improvement in performance thanks to this new deal with IHI with the target of fighting for F1 race wins.

“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,” Moriyama said.

“We expect this partnership to produce a notable step up in performance. Together, we will keep pushing to fight for wins.”

IHI, founded in 1853, specialises in manufacturing ships, aircrafts and turbochargers amongst an artillery of operations, while company boss Yoshinori Kawasaki is eager to see Honda emulate its previous success in F1 when it dominated to every constructors’ crown between 1986-1991 which used Honda power.

“We are happy to enter into this partnership with Honda, one of the best engine manufacturers in the world,” Kawasaki said. “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.”