Because Red Bull changed their livers for F1 in white for the Japanese Grand Prix

A lot of attention will surround Red Bull at the Japanese Grand Prix of this weekend later sudden decision To change only two races in the Formula 1 season.

The world champion Max Verstappen will have a new teammate throughout the Garage at the Suzuka to Yuki Tsunoda, who moves on from the twin team of Red Bull, running bulls. Liam Lawson moved in the opposite direction after a hard start of the year in the Senior team of Red Bull.

But when Tsunoda climbs on the track as a Red Bull F1 pilot for the first time, it will do so in a very different appearance car. On Tuesday, the team revealed a live magazine for this weekend, showing off a white and red design to replace its typical navy blue.

Why Red Bull Racing in White this weekend?

To celebrate his partnership with Honda, which ends this year.

Honda has the Suzuka circuit, originally built as a test track, which means that the Japanese GP is always an important moment in its sporting year. It was connected for the first time to Red Bull in 2019 as a supplier of engines and built the electrical units that were decisive in all four victories of the Verstappen world championship.

To celebrate the Honda partnership in his home race, Red Bull designed a tribute livery inspired by the Honda RA272 car who ran in 1965. Honda marked his first victory that year at the Mexican Grand Prix, with Richie GinSther behind the wheel.

Like the Honda RA272, the Cars of the Red Bull Rb21 of Suzuka will run with a white basic livery that presents the reason of the Japanese flag around the number of driver of Verstappen and Tsunoda, as well as transporting the Honda brand and a special logo to mark 60 years from the victory of GinSther.

Koji Watanabe, president of the Honda Racing Corporation, and Yuki Tsunoda next to the Honda Ra272 (Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Did it happen before?

YES. Red Bull used an almost identical livery for this for the Turkish Grand Prix, added to the calendar in 2021 instead of Suzuka, which did not return to the program until the following year due to the restrictions of Covid-19.

The last year of the Red Bull partnership with Honda was ready to be 2021 after the manufacturer had announced in 2020 that he intended to stop F1. Red Bull has acquired the design rights on the electrical units in the context of its Red Bull PowerTreins division, but the two parts finally maintained a technical collaboration until the end of 2025 due to the freezing of the electrical unit standards.

In Türkiye in 2021, Verstappen and his teammate at the time, Sergio Pérez, finished the race in the second and third place while Valtteri Bottas marked the victory for Mercedes. The diverse of red and white Honda thanks was widely loved by fans, who returned for this weekend in very popular Japan.

Why is the Honda report finally?

For all the success that Red Bull and Honda have enjoyed together, from next year, they will be rivals that go against each other on the track.

In February 2023, Red Bull announced that he entered a partnership with Ford to support his PowerTreins division, bringing the American producer back to sport.

Honda also canceled his decision to leave F1, announcing last year that he would become the new Aston Martin Works partner and the supply engines for the team pursuant to the new regulations that will come into force next year.

Speaking of the Honda report, Verstappen said he brought “many positive memories” through the championship victories, but also through his enjoyment of working with the brand.

“It is something that I am very proud, that I have been able to share all these fantastic moments with Honda,” said Verstappen. “Fans here in Suzuka and Japan are always very fond of Formula 1 in general and, of course, encouraging Honda.”

Do F1 teams regularly change their Livie?

It is common for the teams to make modifications or modifications to the wholesale to their cars for a season during a season to mark the anniversaries or promote their sponsors.

Red Bull is not the only team that changes livery for the Japanese family doctor. Haas also decided to make some smaller changes, incorporating cherry blossom flowers to his usual design in a nod to the current season in Japan.

Last year, McLaren managed a yellow and green tribute livery in Ayrton Senna for the Monaco Grand Prix, commemorating the success of the F1 of the Grande Brazil. Alpine has changed the color of the Blue to Red to Spa car to promote the Deadpool film against Wolverine, with its shareholder, Ryan Reynolds, as well as managing a pink design at the beginning of the season for the sponsor of the BWT title.

Ferrari also added to its famous red color for the Miami Grand Prix, introducing some blue elements in a nod of the head to its American racing heritage, as well as to its new sponsor of the title, HP.

(Image at the top: Red Bull)