Honda says it has no plans to revive its works team under the 2021 regulations, which include a budget cap aimed at making it not only easier for new entrants to join the sport, but also to level the playing field between the smaller and larger outfits.
Speaking to RaceFans, Honda's managing director Masashi Yamamoto explained that its focus is solely on producing a good engine for its customers, which include Red Bull and its junior outfit Toro Rosso, insisting a works team venture would be distracting.
"We know that continuity in Formula 1 is very important. So we have done five years for power unit and somehow now reaching a good area," he said.
"However if we start the chassis now we are going to have another struggle again which we don’t want."
Honda has enjoyed mixed fortunes as an entrant, with its most recent foray between 2006 and 2008 delivering just a single race win before it bowed out and became Brawn GP – which went on to win the title in 2009 – before becoming the dominant Mercedes outfit we know today.
Yamamoto admitted there is a downside to remaining just an engine supplier, as it gives them very little say over the future direction of the sport other than on the engine side.
"There’s not much advantage for being a supplier in this world," he added. "It’s kind of like a disadvantage being a supplier in terms of regulations, but we are joining the manufacturers' meeting for [the] power unit so we can discuss about the regulations there.
“In addition, we can discuss with Red Bull and Toro Rosso."
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