CHICAGO (AP) — Alex Bowman thinks he is moving in the right direction. With the NASCAR Cup Series back in Chicago on Sunday, it’s good timing for the Hendrick Motorsports driver.

Bowman raced to a sorely needed victory in downtown Chicago a year ago, stopping an 80-race drought and securing a spot in the playoffs. He is still looking for his first win this season, but he finished third last weekend at Atlanta.

The 32-year-old Bowman is the only driver to win at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, a 45-mile drive from downtown, and the Chicago Street Course. He got his first Cup victory at Chicagoland in 2019.

“As far as confidence coming into this race, I feel like we’re plenty capable,” he said Saturday. “We’re typically pretty good at road courses. A lot of confidence coming into these places.”

Bowman struggled at the beginning of June, finishing 36th at Nashville and Michigan. But the driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet turned it around in Mexico City, finishing fourth at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez — a 2.42-mile road course with 15 turns.

Three of the last eight races before the playoffs are on road courses — Chicago, Sonoma next weekend and Watkins Glen on Aug. 10.

Bowman said he likes Chicago because it’s so different from the rest of the NASCAR schedule.

“We do a lot of the same thing for most of the year,” he said. “So, you know, walking through the city to get to the racetrack … makes it different and a little more enjoyable. The challenge of a street course in general is super fun. Very technical, very little room for error.”

Bowman held off Tyler Reddick for last year’s win on the 12-turn, 2.2-mile course — a tricky drive with manhole covers and transitions from concrete to asphalt and back. The race was shortened in each of the last two years because of rain, and there could be more showers on Sunday.

Bowman also is competing in the second round of NASCAR’s inaugural in-season tournament this weekend. He faces Bubba Wallace after the two tangled in Chicago last year.

During the cool-down lap after his victory, Bowman was bumped into the wall by Wallace. Bowman spun out Wallace early in the race.

“I think he and I are totally good,” Bowman said. “But yeah, I mean, he’s been really fast here in the past. Like, you don’t tend to think of him as a road course guy, but here last year, he was really fast. So definitely going to be a tough one.”

The head-to-head matchup with Bowman certainly got Wallace’s attention.

“I’m sure he knows that a door slam does not count us even,” Wallace said. “So we’ll see what happens.”

Chase Elliott will look to make it two wins in a row when he takes part in the second leg of the NASCAR In-Season Challenge at the 2025 Grant Park 165 in Chicago on Sunday. Elliott held on to win last week’s race in Atlanta, his first victory of the season. He has 10 top-10 finishes on the year. The bracket-style tournament will continue for five weeks, culminating at the Brickyard 400 on July 27 in Indianapolis.

Shane Van Gisbergen is the +165 outright favorite (risk $100 to win $165) for the Chicago Street Race, with Kyle Larson at +650 and Christopher Bell at +750 in the latest 2025 Grant Park 165 odds, from DraftKings Sportsbook. Sunday’s race is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. ET. Before making any 2025 Grant Park 165 in Chicago picks or NASCAR predictions, you need to see what NASCAR insider Steven Taranto has to say.

Taranto, who moonlights as a sim racer and has 20 career wins in iRacing, is the lead NASCAR writer for CBSSports.com. He has an annual NASCAR media credential and also publishes a popular weekly NASCAR predictions column, famously calling Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez’s breakthrough wins in 2022.

Taranto was red-hot for SportsLine in 2024 as he nailed 17 winners, including 16-1 longshot William Byron at the Daytona 500 and 14-1 longshot Chase Elliott at Texas. He correctly picked the Straight Talk Wireless 400 winner in Larson on March 23. Anyone following his NASCAR picks at their favorite sportsbooks could have seen huge returns.

Now, Taranto has analyzed the starting lineup and odds for Sunday’s 2025 NASCAR Grant Park 165 in Chicago. He’s only sharing his best bets at SportsLine. You can also use them to take advantage of the latest FanDuel promo code, DraftKings promo code or BetMGM promo code.

2025 NASCAR Grant Park 165 expert picks

For the 2025 Grant Park 165 in Chicago, Taranto is high on Christopher Bell at +750. Bell started the year on fire, winning three of the first four NASCAR races. He sped to victories at Atlanta, Circuit of the Americas in Texas and at Phoenix. He has fared well in road course races, taking first in Texas and second at Mexico City.

He has 11 top-10 finishes in 2025. Bell, 30, is a 12-time Cup Series winner. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver has run 195 races over a six-year span. He has 14 poles and 95 top-10 finishes in his career. At the 2023 Chicago race, Bell led a race-high 37 laps before finishing 18th. See which other drivers he’s backing at SportsLine.

Top NASCAR props for Chicago

Head-to-head: Taranto sees Erik Jones (-115) finishing ahead of Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (-115). Taranto notes that this matchup is fairly even, but he gives the edge to Jones based on his recent success. Stenhouse has also been up-and-down at road courses. He was sixth last year at Chicago, but was 34th in 2023.

Jones, who placed fifth last week in Atlanta, has three top-10 finishes in 2025, as well as 92 over his 10-year NASCAR Cup Series career. He has three wins on his resume. Stenhouse, meanwhile, finished sixth in Atlanta after having struggled through the four races prior. He has four wins over his 14-year Cup Series career with 63 top-10 finishes. See all of Taranto’s picks at SportsLine. 

How to make 2025 Grant Park 165 predictions

Taranto has also identified four other drivers in his 2025 NASCAR Grant Park 165 best bets. He’s also high on a huge NASCAR longshot who’s going off around 100-1, potentially netting any backer a huge payday. You can only see who they are here.

So who wins the 2025 Grant Park 165 in Chicago and which massive longshot could stun NASCAR? Visit SportsLine now to see the 2025 NASCAR Grant Park 165 in Chicago picks and best bets from a NASCAR insider who nailed a colossal 17 winners last year, and find out.

2025 NASCAR Grant Park 165 odds, lineup

See full 2025 Grant Park 165 in Chicago picks at SportsLine

(odds subject to change)
Shane Van Gisbergen +165
Kyle Larson +650
Christopher Bell +750
William Byron +1200
Tyler Reddick +1200
Ty Gibbs +1200
Chase Elliott +1400
Will Brown +1800
Michael McDowell +2200
Chris Buescher +2200
Alex Bowman +2200
A.J. Allmendinger +2200
Ross Chastain +2200
Chase Briscoe +2500
Kyle Busch +2800
Daniel Suarez +2800
Ryan Blaney +3500
Denny Hamlin +4000
Carson Hocevar +4000
Austin Cindric +5000
Joey Logano +9000
Justin Haley +10000
Corey Heim +10000
Brad Keselowski +10000
Ryan Preece +10000
John Hunter Nemechek +13000
Cole Custer +13000
Bubba Wallace +13000
Austin Dillon +13000
Zane Smith +13000
Todd Gilliland +13000
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. +17000
Erik Jones +17000
Noah Gragson +20000
Josh Berry +20000
Austin Hill +25000
Riley Herbst +30000
Josh Bilicki +40000
Ty Dillon +40000
Katherine Legge +50000
Cody Ware +50000    

CHICAGO — Shane van Gisbergen pulled off a clean sweep of the poles in NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series qualifying at the Chicago Street Course.

SVG started Saturday with a pole for the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ The Loop 110 race with a lap of 90.085 seconds, averaging 87.917 MPH around the 2.2-mile Chicago Street Course. He followed that up with a pole for the NASCAR Cup Series’ Grant Park 165 with a lap of 89.656 seconds, averaging 88.338 MPH.

How may the speed in qualifying translate to the race?

SVG ran fastest in Xfinity Series practice with a lap of 91.328 seconds, averaging 86.720 MPH. In Cup Series practice, he ran the seventh-fastest lap — 91.375 seconds.

Last year, SVG won the Xfinity race after fending off Kyle Larson, whom he ran second to in Cup practice before qualifying fifth. In the Cup race, SVG led nine laps and won stage one before getting clipped and crashing out on lap 25.

SVG is the defending Cup road/street course winner. He scored a commanding win three weeks ago at Autódromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City over Christopher Bell. The No. 9 Xfinity car SVG is racing in Chicago is also the defending road/street course winner as Suarez won with it in Mexico City.

NASCAR Cup Series Chicago Qualifying Results and Lineup

1. Shane van Gisbergen
2. Michael McDowell
3. Carson Hocevar
4. Tyler Reddick
5. Chase Briscoe
6. Kyle Busch
7. Ryan Prece
8. Chris Buescher
9. Ty Gibbs
10. Austin DIllon
11. Alex Bowman
12. Joey Logano
13. Christopher Bell
14. Kyle Larson
15. Brad Keselowski
16. A.J. Allmendinger
17. Ryan Blaney
18. Daniel Suarez
19. Will Brown
20. Todd Gilliland
21. Riley Herbst
22. Ross Chastain
23. Cole Custer
24. Noah Gragson
25. John Hunter Nemechek
26. Zane Smith
27. Austin Cindric
28. Justin Haley
29. Josh Berry
30. Austin Hill
31. Josh Bilicki
32. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
33. Katherine Legge
34. Erik Jones
35. Cody Ware
36. Ty Dillon
37. Bubba Wallace
38. William Byron
    • Hit the wall and broke a toe link in practice
39. Chase Elliott
    • Hit the wall and broke a toe link in practice
40. Denny Hamln
    • Blew an engine in practice

DNQ: Corey Heim

NASCAR Xfinity Series Chicago Qualifying Results and Lineup

1. Shane van Gisbergen
2. Austin Hill
3. Sam Mayer
4. Sheldon Creed
5. Jack Perkins
6. Justin Allgaier
7. William Sawalich
8. Nick Sanchez
9. Jesse Love
10. Sammy Smith
11. Brandon Jones
12. Preston Pardus
13. Carson Kvapil
14. Alex Labbe
15. Harrison Burton
16. Connor Mosack
17. Austin Green
18. Matt DiBenedetto
19. Jeremy Clements
20. Thomas Annunziata
21. Daniel Dye
22. Brennan Poole
23. Blaine Perkins
24. Parker Retzlaff
25. Josh Bilicki
26. Brad Perez
27. Josh Williams
28. Anthony Alfredo
29. Andre Castro
30. Kaz Grala
31. Jeb Burton
32. Ryan Ellis
33. Dean Thompson
34. Kyle Sieg
35. Connor Zilisch
36. Taylor Gray
37. Ryan Sieg
38. Christian Eckes

DNQ: Kris Wright, Sage Karam.

Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.

A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.

Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick’s final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen’s stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers’ stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.

Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com

Did the racing at Atlanta show that Daytona and Talladega need work? Maybe, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. has a warning. NASCAR fans need to be careful before they start talking about taking a date away from either of the sport’s historic drafting tracks.

Atlanta is one of the best tracks from an entertainment standpoint on the schedule. Fan support for the track has changed more or less overnight after the reconfiguration was finished. Each year, as the repave ages, the racing only gets more impressive.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. talked about the Atlanta race this week. On the Dale Jr. Download, Earnhardt warned NASCAR fans about wishing away a date from any race track, let alone Daytona and Talladega.

“Somebody was arguing on social media that we should not race at Daytona, Talladega twice a year, because of the product on the race track,” Earnhardt explained. “And my opinion to that would be, we make a lot of mistakes by leaving race tracks because the racing isn’t good, and that is the wrong approach. You should make the racing better, not leave the track.

“Them two tracks right there are quite unique and very historic. So, I would propose actually making the racing so good that you’re glad you go there twice a year, not stop going to the race track because the product’s not good. It’s not the race track’s fault. And I would say the same thing about Richmond.”

Richmond lost a date, partly due to attendance and partly due to the on-track product. But Daytona and Talladega are different. The racing is not what it once was, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fixed.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is right about Daytona, Talladega

The importance that Daytona and Talladega have for NASCAR is on another level. Tracks like Richmond and Bristol used to be packed, and the short-track product was what fueled the sport. But superspeedways have lasted the test of time. They bring in the casual fans like short tracks just aren’t able to.

For NASCAR fans who have watched for years, the superspeedway product isn’t great. At least, on the traditional drafting tracks. Atlanta has changed things in the Next Gen era. But for fans who only tune in for a few races a year, mainly being Daytona and/or Talladega, do the flaws actually stick out as much as they do for the weekly watcher?

When Richmond lost a date to Mexico City this season, it was a tough pill to swallow for people like Dale Earnhardt Jr. Those older short tracks are what built the sport. But if fans aren’t showing up in the stands or on the TV, and the racing is generating more negative headlines than positive, is it worth keeping on the schedule twice a year?

It is interesting, even with 40 race weeks on the schedule, there are tracks fans don’t feel get the love they deserve. Perhaps moving to a single-date will help Richmond like it has with Michigan, Pocono, and others. But taking a date from Daytona or Talladega because the racing isn’t as good as it used to be, that’s a short-sighted decision that NASCAR hopefully doesn’t make.

Koji Watanabe’s appointment as President of Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) in 2022 marked a decisive new chapter in the company’s global motorsport strategy.

A Honda veteran since 1987, Watanabe brought decades of international experience across automotive operations, motorsport PR, and brand communications to the role. His leadership oversaw the unification of Honda’s two- and four-wheel racing efforts under the HRC banner, streamlining operations and sharpening Honda’s competitive focus.

In an exclusive interview with GRANDPRIX247 and Kyodo News Agency, Watanabe reflected on the end of Honda’s dominant partnership with Red Bull in Formula 1, the company’s full-scale return with Aston Martin in 2026, and the deepening alignment between F1’s hybrid future and Honda’s wider electrification roadmap.

He reaffirmed Honda’s commitment to racing as a proving ground for both technology and talent, and outlined a clear ambition: to convert F1 success into long-term value for the Honda brand, its engineers, and a new generation of global fans.

Q: First of all, is your long-standing partnership with Red Bull ending successfully? Looking back, how would you evaluate it?

Koji Watanabe: Yes, Honda has been in partnership with Red Bull for eight years. For us, it was one of the most successful partnerships in F1 history.
In 2019, we won our first race in Austria during our fourth term. That year, we also finished first and second in Brazil, and in 2020, AlphaTauri took their first win. In 2023, we achieved 21 wins out of 22 races, a record-breaking winning rate. Max’s drivers’ championships – four in a row – were all won with Honda and HRC power units. I believe we made a significant contribution. It was a great partnership overall. That’s the summary.

Q: You’ve been struggling this season. What do you think is the reason?

KW: That’s competition. Red Bull and Honda haven’t become complacent, but other teams have made remarkable progress. In any case, we haven’t given up on the drivers’ championship yet. Max is still giving it everything.
Speaking of Red Bull, it’s about Mateschitz – his leadership and great vision. He was obsessed with winning and loved racing. I think he led the entire team to victory. You need someone with strong leadership in racing, and that was Red Bull’s strength. There’s no doubt that Christian and Helmut are now leading the team with that same energy. Mateschitz was truly great.

Q: Looking ahead to next season, you withdrew from F1 in 2021 but have returned. How does this align with Honda’s EV strategy through 2040?

KW: The withdrawal by Honda Motor Co., Ltd. was a major shift toward electrification, and that’s not a small change. F1 used to require many top engineers, but we felt those people needed to be reallocated to EV development. It was necessary to reassign people, resources, and funding. I believe it was the right decision.
Then, as the new F1 regulations were finalised, especially with a larger emphasis on electrification and carbon neutrality, it became clear that some of the technologies could be applied to our commercial operations – 3D mobility, eVTOL and so on. That’s when we decided to re-enter in 2026.

Q: Some people say the 2021 withdrawal was a waste of time. Do you agree?

KW: Well, yes. At the time, we didn’t expect to return so soon, so in that sense, it could be seen that way. But in 2022, Honda’s F1 operations were integrated into HRC, originally a two-wheel racing company, and we continued to support Red Bull. We also continued developing elemental technologies. So in that sense, we didn’t start from zero. When we return in 2026, we won’t be starting from scratch in terms of staff or budget.

Q: Can you tell us how the partnership with Aston Martin came about?

KW: To participate in 2026, we had to register as a manufacturer by November 2023. At that time, we weren’t planning to re-enter, but as a racing company, we wanted to stay involved with the direction of F1. Once we registered, various teams approached us, and that’s how the talks with Aston Martin began.
We were in contact with almost all of the major teams – not Ferrari or Mercedes – but others. What stood out with Aston Martin, much like with Mateschitz, was their leadership. We saw Stroll’s commitment to winning, his love of racing, and his respect for Honda. From their side, they really wanted to work with us. That’s where serious discussions began.

Q: What are you focusing on in preparation for next season?

KW: As a works team – not a customer – we also work on engine packaging and integration with the chassis. Aston Martin is currently producing the gearbox and integrating it with our power unit. We’re also testing several configurations.
With Adrian Newey involved, we’re looking at how to match the engine to his aerodynamic concepts. Fuel development is also critical. This is the first time we’re working with Aramco. We have some fuel expertise and are now co-developing. We’re also developing engine oil with Valvoline. We’re doing everything that’s needed to win.

Q: Would you say preparations are going well?

KW: It’s a completely new regulation, so we don’t know exactly what the others are doing. We’ve set ambitious but reasonable targets – several steps above our previous standards – and are working toward them. We won’t be able to assess our position until we’re running, but our mindset is always on winning.

Q: What is the key to success, as you achieved with Red Bull?

KW: It comes down to taking on new technical challenges. You can’t win by simply extending existing technology. We have to set higher goals and adopt new ideas. That’s what we’re doing.

Q: How does this connect to mass production and EVs?

KW: Not everything translates directly. F1 is cutting-edge, and most of the tech doesn’t apply to mass production. But engineers who have experienced F1 can bring value to hybrid and eHEV development. They can also contribute to new fields like 3D mobility. Training people and developing technology – that’s why we race. The end goal is for engineers to turn their knowledge into real products for customers.

Q: How has the external reaction been?

KW: There’s a strong expectation for Honda to be in F1. When people think of the Honda brand, motorsport is part of that identity. Our customers are watching, and we must be aware of that. I can’t promise anything definitive about the future, but as president of Honda Racing, I believe we must build a system that allows us to keep racing.

Q: Is the sustainability approach different now than before?

KW: It’s no longer just a project that disappears once it ends. Know-how is now being retained within the company. If we can work more closely with Honda’s business side, and create a direct pipeline from HRC and F1 into mass production – like what GR has done – we can increase the value of our racing activities. That’s one of our goals.

Q: F1 is growing globally, especially in the US. Is that helping Honda’s marketing?

KW: The US is now a very important market for Honda. The growth of F1 there is a major reason for our return. Our brand image in the US had become a bit dull – known only for durability and quality. Honda America wants to use F1 to appeal to younger customers again. They’re using F1 in their advertising now. Marketing and motorsport are more connected than ever, and that helps with continuity.

Q: In Japan, the fan base is aging. What needs to change?

KW: That’s true, though we’re seeing younger fans emerge. We’re working with F1 and FOM to attract new fans. For example, we hosted an event in Odaiba this year to help bring F1 closer to people who can’t make it to Suzuka. There are fewer fans in Tokyo, and we want to change that. Kansai still has a strong, loyal fanbase, but Tokyo needs more engagement.

Q: Let’s talk about Tsunoda. He began driving for Red Bull mid-season. You supported that decision, didn’t you?

KW: Yes. I’ve always told Christian Horner that Honda wants a driver who can win. We’ve believed in Tsunoda’s ability from the start, though he hasn’t always had the success we hoped. At Suzuka, I spoke with Christian and asked him to seriously evaluate Yuki. That’s how the promotion happened. People ask me how long he’ll drive, but we agreed they would give him a fair chance. I’m not worried. I’ll check in with Christian again soon, but I don’t expect changes.

Q: How do you think Tsunoda is doing since the promotion?

KW: I spoke to him recently. He’s staying positive and believes in his potential. The car is still lacking competitiveness, but Red Bull is a top team. I think they’ll improve in the second half of the season. I believe Yuki will seize this chance and deliver strong results.

Q: Aston Martin has renewed their driver lineup, but Tsunoda is a former Honda driver. What do you want his future to look like?

KW: I don’t intend to tie him to Honda just because of the past. He’s a capable F1 driver. What matters is his own will. From what I hear, he wants to stay with Red Bull. I support that. Wherever he goes, he will always be a Honda alumnus, and I’ll continue to support him.

Q: Is it important for Honda to have a Japanese driver involved?

KW: Now that we’re partnering with Aston Martin, we need a driver lineup that can win. If there’s a Japanese driver who fits that role, I’d push for him. I hope we can create opportunities for the next generation of Japanese drivers following in Yuki’s footsteps.

Q: What do you think of the current presence of Japanese drivers?

KW: Tsunoda has now done 100 races, and we’re proud to have a Japanese driver performing at this level. I believe there are others in Japan with similar potential. We want to strengthen our training programmes and provide proper support to help bring them up. Our goal is to produce a second or third Tsunoda.

Q: What is the current status of HRC’s UK base?

KW: It was originally closed after our work with Red Bull, but we’ve since re-established our UK base. I am currently serving as its president, and Mr Yamazaki is vice president.

Who is Koji Watanabe

Koji Watanabe assumed the presidency of Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) in 2022, marking a bold pivot in a storied motorsport legacy. A Honda veteran since 1987, Watanabe’s ascent through European automobile operations, motorsport PR, and brand communication uniquely positioned him to unify Honda’s two- and four-wheel racing programmes under a single umbrella.

Born into a generation inspired by Formula 1, Watanabe was drawn to Honda’s motorsport spirit early on. His career saw postings overseas for 18 years in motorsport PR, followed by executive roles in brand management, culminating in the presidency of HRC. He reflects that his personal mission was to blend motorsport passion, global reach, and communication strategy, and that the HRC role has allowed him to achieve all three.

Under Watanabe’s direction, HRC’s 2022 restructuring brought motorcycle and automobile racing together under one global entity. This included absorbing HRD Sakura to establish HRC Sakura in Tochigi and launching subsidiaries in the UK and the US. The goal was not just to enhance race performance, but also to build brand value through cross-discipline synergy. Watanabe prioritised brand elevation, carbon neutrality, and talent development across MotoGP, Super Formula, Super GT, Rally, Trial, and the upcoming F1 entry.

Red Bull Phase Boosts Honda Reputation

The 2022 to 2025 partnership saw HRC supply power units to Red Bull Powertrains and AlphaTauri. This era contributed to Red Bull Racing’s domination, with 21 wins in 22 races in 2023 and continued Drivers’ Championships for Max Verstappen.

Watanabe viewed Formula 1 as a laboratory on wheels, helping Honda refine hybrid efficiency, energy deployment and real-time telemetry systems, all of which contribute to future road car technology.

At the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, Watanabe praised Verstappen’s emotional fourth win at the venue and acknowledged the impact the Red Bull partnership had on Honda’s motorsport identity.

In May 2023, Honda confirmed a full-scale return to F1 in 2026, this time with Aston Martin as a full works partner. Watanabe described this as a pivotal move, one that allowed HRC to step beyond engine supply and into a more strategic, commercially driven role.

Alongside this, HRC plans to expand brand equity through merchandising, services, and a greater emphasis on sustainable profitability in motorsport.

2026 and Beyond: Watanabe’s Technical and Global Vision

With Formula 1’s 2026 rules set to increase electrical output and mandate carbon-neutral fuels, Watanabe acknowledges the engineering challenge. The new rules call for a 50/50 split between internal combustion and electric power, alongside cost controls.

Still, Watanabe believes this direction aligns perfectly with Honda’s long-term environmental goals and says the learnings from F1 will feed into Honda’s next-generation cars and mobility platforms.

He remains realistic about the difficulty of the task. “We are struggling. Now we are trying,” he admitted, as development intensifies behind closed doors.

Watanabe is clear about HRC’s broader mission. Domestic series like Super GT and Super Formula are being used to develop young talent such as Ayumu Iwasa and Igor Fraga. HRC is also investing in e-motorsports, using virtual racing to connect with new fans and identify future drivers and engineers.

He sees F1’s growing audience, particularly among younger fans, as vital to energising Honda’s brand in Japan and North America. The resurgence of business engagement around the Japanese Grand Prix reflects the momentum HRC is building under his leadership

Watanabe is guiding HRC through a crucial transformation, from a race-focused engine supplier into a global motorsport and innovation platform. His approach combines Honda’s founding racing spirit with strategic commercial thinking, positioning HRC to thrive in the next era of Formula 1 and beyond.

As the sport enters a new phase of technological evolution, it is Watanabe’s leadership that will define Honda’s competitive future.

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