Honda motorsport chief Yamamoto to focus solely on F1

Honda has confirmed the general manager of its motorsport department, Masashi Yamamoto, will take up a new role to focus solely on Formula 1 from the beginning of April.

Honda will supply two teams with power units this year for the first time since returning to F1 in 2015, working with both Red Bull and Toro Rosso.

The Japanese manufacturer has expanded its F1 operation to reflect the additional supply, and confirmed on Saturday at its season launch event in Tokyo that it would also be restructuring its senior management.

Having previously overseen all of Honda's motorsport interests, Yamamoto will now move into the new role of Honda F1 managing director, effective from April 1.

"Yamamoto’s new role means that he will now focus solely on the Formula 1 operation, underlining just how important this project is to Honda, especially in its first year back supplying two teams on the grid," a statement from Honda reads.

Yamamoto will work closely with Honda F1 technical director Toyoharu Tanabe, while his existing role will be filled by Hiroshi Shimizu, the current president of Honda Mexico.