Mugen's partnership with Red Bull in Super Formula is about to finish at the tip of the 2024 season, Motorsport.com has learned.
Red Bull and Honda have been working together on their junior programmes for the reason that two firms joined forces in Formula 1 when the energy drink giant’s second team, then often called Toro Rosso, took over the Japanese manufacturer’s engines in 2018.
With Honda set to develop into Aston Martin's factory partner in 2026, it was originally assumed that the partnership between Mugen, Honda's leading Super Formula team, and Red Bull would last until the tip of 2025.
However, multiple sources have told Motorsport.com that the contract will likely be terminated at the tip of the present season.
This could potentially mean an end to Red Bull's practice of sending young Formula 2 drivers to Japan as a part of a final evaluation ahead of Formula 1 races.
Mugen team principal Hirokatsu Tanaka declined to comment when approached by Motorsport.com.
A Honda spokesman explained that the joint F1 junior programme with Red Bull will end after 2024, but declined to comment on the Mugen situation.
Pierre Gasly became the primary young Red Bull driver to race for Mugen in 2017, coinciding with the team’s return to two-car racing after a period with a single Honda-powered automobile.
For 2022, Red Bull transferred its support to the Servus Japan-run Team Goh squad, but after a disappointing season with Honda junior Ren Sato, the partnership with Team Mugen was revived for 2023 when Liam Lawson joined the team.
Ayumu Iwasa took over from Lawson for the 2024 season after two years racing in Formula 2 and is fifth in the present standings with two second places to his name, 22.5 points behind team-mate and two-time champion Tomoki Nojiri.
Ayumu Iwasa, TEAM MUGEN
Photo: Masahide Kamio
It can be unclear how Iwasa's relationship with Red Bull will develop, especially as his Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar leads the Formula 2 standings and Arvid Lindblad finished fourth in his debut season in Formula 3.
From 2023, the cooperation between Red Bull and Mugen has been prolonged to incorporate sponsorship of each cars, and Nojiri has develop into a Red Bull athlete.
Red Bull's individual contracts with Nojiri and Ukyo Sasahara, who competes in Super Formula for TOM'S, aren’t expected to be affected by the brand's separation from Mugen.
Mugen is already understood to be considering options to make sure it could possibly proceed selling its second automobile next 12 months, including attempting to recruit foreign drivers who can provide you with a budget.
External funding was needed to maintain the team running its two-car operation in 2022 while temporarily separated from Red Bull, and Sasahara only joined Nojiri’s team on the last minute for this season.
