Today is the running of the F1 race at Suzuka in Japan. This season is the last for which Honda will be supplying engines to the Red Bull teams. 2025 is also the 60th anniversary of Honda’s first F1 win, with Richie Ginther in the RA272. In 1965, Honda was known as a motorcycle company. Racing was Soichiro Honda’s first love and competing and winning in F1 went a long way in establishing his company’s credentials when it came to four wheeled vehicles.
From Grok:
The Honda RA272 was the Formula 1 car that secured Honda’s first victory in the sport at the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix. Driven by American racer Richie Ginther, this car marked a historic moment as the first Japanese-built car to win a Formula 1 race. The victory took place on October 24, 1965, at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City, during the final round of the 1965 season.
The RA272 was an evolution of Honda’s initial F1 entry, the RA271, which debuted in 1964. It featured a technically advanced 1.5-liter V12 engine, known as the RA272E, producing around 230 horsepower at 11,500–12,000 rpm, with the capability to rev up to 14,000 rpm for short bursts. This made it one of the most powerful engines of the 1.5-liter era, which ended after the 1965 season due to new 3.0-liter regulations for 1966. The engine was mounted transversely in a midship layout, a unique design choice that reflected Honda’s engineering innovation, drawing from its motorcycle expertise. The car itself weighed approximately 498 kg (1,098 lbs), lighter than its predecessor, thanks to the use of light alloys and an aluminum monocoque chassis.
During the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix, Ginther started from the third position and took the lead at the start, holding it for all 65 laps. He finished ahead of Dan Gurney in a Brabham-Climax, with teammate Ronnie Bucknum coming in fifth, securing a double points finish for Honda. The high-altitude conditions of Mexico City (2,300 meters above sea level) favored the RA272’s engine, which was designed to perform well in thinner air, giving it an edge over competitors. This win was not only a triumph for Honda but also the first Formula 1 victory for tire supplier Goodyear.
The RA272’s success came just two years after Honda began producing road cars in 1963, showcasing the company’s rapid rise in motorsport. It remains an iconic piece of F1 history, celebrated for its engineering and its role in establishing Honda’s legacy in the sport, which now includes 89 victories as an engine supplier or constructor. The car’s distinctive Championship White color and red Honda badge later inspired the design of Honda’s Type R road cars. Today, the RA272 is preserved in the Honda Collection Hall at Twin Ring Motegi, Japan, though it has made appearances at events like the Goodwood Festival of Speed and Monterey Car Week in 2024 to commemorate Honda’s 60 years in F1.
