FormulaSpy Logo
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Home
  • F1 News
  • F1 Calendar
  • F1 Standings
  • Drivers
  • Teams
  • Videos
  • Formula E
F1 Shop
F1 Shop
  • Home
  • F1 News
  • F1 Calendar
  • F1 Standings
  • Drivers
  • Teams
  • Videos
  • Formula E
F1 Shop
F1 Shop
No Result
View All Result
FormulaSpy Logo Mobile
No Result
View All Result

Verstappen & Sato drive the Honda RA272

Thomas Maher by Thomas Maher
10th October 2019
Reading Time: 3 mins read
F1 Formula 1 Indycar Honda Takuma Sato Max Verstappen

Red Bull/Getty

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterEmail

Formula 1’s Max Verstappen and IndyCar’s Takuma Sato tried out Honda’s first race-winning car, the RA272, in the build-up to Suzuka.

RELATED POSTS

Verstappen weathers the rain to take victory in Monaco

Race Results – 2023 Monaco Grand Prix

Leclerc handed three place grid drop for impeding Norris

Honda’s leading man in Formula 1 at the moment, Max Verstappen, travelled to the Tochigi Proving Ground near Suzuka on Wednesday. Meeting up with IndyCar driver and former F1 driver Takuma Sato, the pair both had the chance to meet Honda employees working at the Honda Automobile R&D Centre at Tochigi before taking to the track in the RA272. Verstappen also put on a demonstration by driving the 2011 Red Bull RB7.

The RA272 was Honda’s entry into the 1965 F1 World Championship, and was driven by Richie Ginther and Ronnie Bucknum. The car was Honda’s third attempt at a Formula 1 car, but only the second to race. In the hands of Ginther, Honda claimed victory at the Mexican Grand Prix. Not only was it Honda’s first F1 win, but it was the first victory for a Japanese manufacturer in Formula 1.

54 years later, and Honda’s most recent race winner and Red Bull driver Max Verstappen strapped himself in to try it out.

“It was very cool to get to experience this car,” Verstappen said afterwards. “I think the oldest race car I’ve driven before today was from about 2008. It’s quite different, but I really enjoyed it. The pure emotion from the engine and the car itself was incredible. I didn’t even fit properly in the car! But it was an amazing experience for sure. I’m very happy that I was born a bit later [than to have raced this car], but of course I’m really grateful to be able to experience it.”

“I don’t think I would race it myself, and if you look back 50 years the evolution is insane.” Verstappen continued. “But it is good fun to go back to these cars. The main difference in the RB7 was that I had seatbelts! In the other one I didn’t, so it felt a bit odd,” Max laughed. “With the RA272 I had to shift gears with a foot clutch, which I haven’t done in quite some time. It’s a different feeling but both felt good.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Takuma Sato, Honda’s long-standing supported driver throughout his Formula 1 career with Jordan, BAR and Super Aguri now races in IndyCar. Driving with KV Racing, AJ Foyt Enterprises, Andretti and Rahal Letterman Lanigan, Sato has always had Honda power in the back and also won the 2017 Indy 500 – the most recent win for Honda power at the Brickyard. He sampled the car after Verstappen, and came away smiling as well.

“This is a really special moment for any race car driver.” said Sato afterwards. “There’s such a nostalgic feeling with it. The car is obviously very different to modern formula cars and race cars and Max has just experienced how tricky it is to make it run smoothly. I’m really fortunate to have had some opportunities to run those old cars at past events and it always makes me smile.”

Verstappen goes into the Japanese Grand Prix weekend with a fresh Honda power unit, as well as teammate Alex Albon. Toro Rosso-Honda drivers Pierre Gasly and Daniil Kvyat are in the same position, as Honda opted to give all their drivers fresh engines in Russia two weeks ago, in order to filter through fresh power units for their home Grand Prix.

All images of Verstappen & Sato from Red Bull/Getty

Tags: Formula 1HondaIndycarJapanese Grand PrixMax VerstappenTakuma Sato
Share12TweetSend
Previous Post

Leclerc: ‘Everything fine’ at Ferrari after Binotto meeting

Next Post

Gasly: Yamamoto apologised for taking my seat!

Thomas Maher

Thomas Maher

Co-owner, Chief Editor and a journalist for FormulaSpy.com - Ireland's only accredited F1 & Formula E website. Enjoy my work - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/MidcHN8

Related Posts

Verstappen weathers the rain to take victory in Monaco
F1 News

Verstappen weathers the rain to take victory in Monaco

28th May 2023
Race Results – 2023 Monaco Grand Prix
F1 News

Race Results – 2023 Monaco Grand Prix

28th May 2023
Leclerc handed three place grid drop for impeding Norris
F1 News

Leclerc handed three place grid drop for impeding Norris

27th May 2023
Verstappen on pole after very competitive Monaco qualifying
F1 News

Verstappen on pole after very competitive Monaco qualifying

27th May 2023
(FP2) Second Practice Results – 2023 Monaco Grand Prix
F1 News

Qualifying Results – 2023 Monaco Grand Prix

27th May 2023
(FP2) Second Practice Results – 2023 Monaco Grand Prix
F1 News

(FP3) Third Practice Results – 2023 Monaco Grand Prix

27th May 2023
Next Post
F1 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix Pierre Gasly Naoki Yamamoto super formula

Gasly: Yamamoto apologised for taking my seat!

DS Techeetah

Techeetah release images of their season 6 challenger

Latest News

Verstappen weathers the rain to take victory in Monaco

Verstappen weathers the rain to take victory in Monaco

28th May 2023
Race Results – 2023 Monaco Grand Prix

Race Results – 2023 Monaco Grand Prix

28th May 2023
Leclerc handed three place grid drop for impeding Norris

Leclerc handed three place grid drop for impeding Norris

27th May 2023
Verstappen on pole after very competitive Monaco qualifying

Verstappen on pole after very competitive Monaco qualifying

27th May 2023
(FP2) Second Practice Results – 2023 Monaco Grand Prix

Qualifying Results – 2023 Monaco Grand Prix

27th May 2023
(FP2) Second Practice Results – 2023 Monaco Grand Prix

(FP3) Third Practice Results – 2023 Monaco Grand Prix

27th May 2023
Verstappen fastest in FP2 as Sainz crashes

Verstappen fastest in FP2 as Sainz crashes

26th May 2023
(FP2) Second Practice Results – 2023 Monaco Grand Prix

(FP2) Second Practice Results – 2023 Monaco Grand Prix

26th May 2023
Sainz leads Alonso in Red Flag shortened Monaco FP1

Sainz leads Alonso in Red Flag shortened Monaco FP1

26th May 2023
(FP1) First Practice Results – 2023 Monaco Grand Prix

(FP1) First Practice Results – 2023 Monaco Grand Prix

26th May 2023

Recommended Stories

Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Belgian Grand Prix

Hamilton plays down “tricks” post-race comment

27th August 2018
Gasly Red Bull Racing

Gasly: Lots to learn in challenging second year

12th March 2019
Qualifying Results – 2022 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix

Qualifying Results – 2022 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix

22nd April 2022

Popular Stories

  • F1 Formula 1 Haas 2021 livery Uralkali

    WADA confirm interest in Haas’ 2021 livery

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 2022 F1 calendar and pre-season testing dates

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • ‘Perez’s manager working on finding alternative seat for 2021’

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Analysis: Where has Ferrari’s speed gone?

    14 shares
    Share 14 Tweet 0
  • Updated – 2020 F1 Drivers, Teams and Driver Numbers

    40 shares
    Share 40 Tweet 0
FormulaSpy

Find the latest Formula 1 news, results & reactions!

FormulaSpy is an independent accredited F1 news site, based in Ireland.

LEARN MORE »

Recent Posts

  • Verstappen weathers the rain to take victory in Monaco 28th May 2023
  • Race Results – 2023 Monaco Grand Prix 28th May 2023
  • Leclerc handed three place grid drop for impeding Norris 27th May 2023

Follow us on Social Media

Follow FormulaSpy on your favourite social media channels!

Built with ❤ in Dublin, Ireland ☘ © 2023
The total or partial reproduction of text, photographs or illustrations is not permitted in any form.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • F1 News
  • F1 Calendar
  • F1 Standings
  • Drivers
  • Teams
  • Videos

Built with ❤ in Dublin, Ireland ☘ © 2023
The total or partial reproduction of text, photographs or illustrations is not permitted in any form.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In