Honda is celebrating the 60th anniversary of its first victory in the FIA*1 Formula One World Championship (F1) this year.
As part of its commemorative initiative, Honda will showcase the Williams Honda FW11*2, the racing car that brought Honda its first F1 Constructors’ Championship*3 title, at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed (July 10–13, local time) in West Sussex, UK.
Nigel Mansell, who piloted the FW11 at the time, will take the wheel once again for a showrun (demonstration run), reflecting on Honda F1’s history of challenges and victories, while exciting motorsport fans around the world.
The 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed will celebrate the 75th anniversary of F1 and the 125th anniversary of motorsports, with the theme “The Winning Formula – Champions and Challengers.” The FW11, which will participate in the showrun, is powered by the Honda-developed RA166E, a 1.5L V6 twin-turbo engine, said to have produced 1,500 horsepower, In 1986, it powered Williams Honda to nine wins out of 16 rounds, claiming Honda F1’s first Constructors’ Championship title. To mark this occasion, the car will be driven by its original driver, Nigel Mansell, following several months of meticulous, period-correct restoration by Williams Heritage*4. This FW11 is also scheduled to participate in a showrun at the Monterey Car Week 2025, an automotive festival held in California, USA, in August.
*1 FIA: Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile
*2 FW11 competed in F1 in 1986 with Honda supplying engines to the team currently named Atlassian Williams Racing team
*3 Title awarded to the team that accumulates the most points over the course of a single season (one year)
*4 Atlassian Williams Racing’s restoration department
Furthermore, as the culmination of its 60th anniversary celebrations, Honda has decided to conduct a showrun of the Honda RA272, the racing car that brought Honda its first F1 victory, at the Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix 2025, which will take place from October 24 to 26, 2025, exactly 60 years after Honda’s first victory at the same El Hermanos Rodriguez Circuit.
Since its founding, Honda has regarded racing as a place to hone both its people and technology, and has boldly challenged F1, achieving many victories. Honda will continue to challenge F1, the world’s premier car racing series, to further refine both its people and technologies, while delivering dreams and excitement to motorsports fans around the world and Honda fans everywhere.
Comment of Koji Watanabe, President of Honda Racing Corporation (HRC)
“We are thrilled that the FW11 showrun at Goodwood has been confirmed. The FW11, which will be driven at this event, is an irreplaceable car that brought Honda its first F1 World Championship. I would like to commend the skills of those involved in restoring this special car, and express my gratitude to everyone who made this opportunity possible. Additionally, we will continue to prepare for the events planned to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Honda’s first F1 victory, including Goodwood, with the aim of providing joy to all fans.”
Honda F1 activity highlights
1964–1968
Participated in F1 as an all-Honda team (engine and chassis)
1965
First victory at the Mexican Grand Prix
1983–1992
Participated in F1 as an engine supplier
1986
Won the Constructors’ Championship title (Williams Honda)
1987
Won both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championship titles (Williams Honda)
1988–1991
Participated as McLaren Honda, winning the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championship titles
2000–2005
Participated as BAR Honda, supplying engines and jointly developing chassis
2006–2008
Participated as an all-Honda team (engine and chassis)
2015–2017
Participated as a power unit (PU) supplier (to McLaren Racing)
2018
Began PU supply to Scuderia Toro Rosso
2019
Began PU supply to Red Bull Racing
2021
Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) won the Drivers’ Championship
Ended participation in F1 as of 2021
2022
HRC began technical support for Red Bull Powertrains. Red Bull Racing won the Constructors’ Championship title, and Max Verstappen won the Drivers’ Championship title.
2023
Announced plans to return to F1 starting in 2026
Red Bull Racing won the Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championship titles for two consecutive years.
2024
Max Verstappen won his fourth consecutive Drivers’ Championship title
