Sixty years ago at the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix, Honda became the first Japanese manufacturer to secure a Formula 1 win, with Richie Ginther behind the wheel of the RA272. To honor this milestone, Honda plans a special demonstration featuring the original RA272 car at this year’s Mexico GP.
Yuki Tsunoda, currently a driver for Red Bull Racing and formerly a Honda junior driver, has been selected to pilot this historic vehicle. This occasion offers a rare glimpse of a current Formula 1 driver operating a classic F1 car during an active race weekend, contrasting sharply with today’s technology-heavy machines.
Yuki Tsunoda’s Unique Role with the RA272
Although Tsunoda has experience driving the RA272 at events like the Goodwood Festival of Speed, this will mark his first time running the car during an official Grand Prix weekend. The RA272 features a 1.5-liter V-12 engine, a vastly different setup from the modern high-downforce V-6 hybrid engines used today, making it unlikely to offer Tsunoda direct performance insights for his upcoming races.
Historic appearances of the RA272 are uncommon during weekends of active Formula 1 racing but the car has previously been showcased at notable events, including Monterey Car Week at Laguna Seca in 2024.
Honda’s Partnership with Red Bull Racing and Future Plans
Since 2019, Honda has supplied power units to Red Bull Racing, sharing in all four of Max Verstappen’s world championships during that time. This collaboration, however, is set to conclude with the introduction of new regulations next year. Afterward, Honda will still remain involved in Formula 1, supporting Aston Martin as their factory partner.
Legacy and Motorsport Passion
The celebration of the RA272’s historic victory echoes the deep automotive enthusiasm of many fans and insiders, such as Fred Smith, whose passion for racing has influenced his life, despite daily driving a high-mileage first-year Porsche Panamera and memories of famous racing moments like the 2011 Indianapolis 500 final lap. These stories reflect a layered connection to motorsport history and its ongoing evolution.
