Team story
Origins
The RA271 brought Honda to the Nürburgring in 1964 with Ronnie Bucknum. The Japanese manufacturer built both the chassis and engine, a transversely mounted 1.5-litre V12. The debut opened its first phase as a complete constructor, quite distinct from later programmes supplying engines to British teams.
In 1965 Richie Ginther joined Bucknum in the RA272.
The Formula 1 journey
Ginther won in Mexico in 1965, giving Honda its first World Championship victory. The change to three litres brought the RA273 and RA300: John Surtees won at Monza in 1967 in the latter. After ending its first venture in 1968, Honda returned as a works team in 2006, using the BAR organisation.
Jenson Button took the constructor’s third victory in Hungary, in a race that began in wet conditions.
Historical timeline
Three chapters in the story of Honda
Three episodes to revisit the people, cars and races that shaped this journey.
First appearance · German Grand Prix
Ronnie Bucknum · German Grand Prix 1964. The recorded position is P13; this number alone does not show whether the driver completed the race distance. This is the first recorded race start, or the first entry if the team never started a race.
Sporting landmark · Mexican Grand Prix
Richie Ginther · Mexican Grand Prix 1965. The recorded position is P1; this number alone does not show whether the driver completed the race distance. This marks the first win or podium where one exists, otherwise the highest recorded placing for this constructor.
Latest recorded appearance · Brazilian Grand Prix
Rubens Barrichello · Brazilian Grand Prix 2008. The recorded position is P15; this number alone does not show whether the driver completed the race distance. This is the last race start attributed to this constructor in the archive, not necessarily the end of the organisation behind it.
A distinctive way of racing
The two ventures had different technical foundations. In the 1960s, Honda experimented directly with the entire single-seater; the RA302 also explored an air-cooled V8. Its 2000s project instead used the British organisation and cars such as the RA106, RA107 and RA108.
Supplying engines to Williams, McLaren or other partners does not credit Honda as a constructor with those chassis’ victories.
What remains
On 5 December 2008, Honda announced its withdrawal, citing the deterioration of the global economy and the need to reallocate resources. The RA108 was the last single-seater to contest the World Championship under that constructor name. The history of its three victories remains separate from its subsequent power-unit activity: the marque continued in the sport with different responsibilities and sporting identities.
