Nigel Mansell, a true legend of Formula 1, is set to step back into a car that holds a special place in racing history. This summer, fans will see Mansell get behind the wheel of the iconic Williams Honda FW11. This car helped Honda clinch its very first F1 Constructors’ title.
The reunion happens at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2025, from July 10 to 13. This big event takes place in West Sussex, UK. Honda is using this moment to kick off celebrations for a major milestone: 60 years since their first win in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship. The Goodwood festival itself is marking a few anniversaries too, celebrating 75 years of F1 and 125 years of motorsport. The theme for this year is “The Winning Formula – Champions and Challengers.”
The FW11 Mansell will drive is quite a machine. It sports a 1.5L V6 twin-turbo Honda RA166E engine, rumored to push out over 1050 horsepower. In 1986, this powerful car helped Williams Honda secure nine wins out of 16 races. That impressive season earned Honda its first-ever F1 Constructors’ title. The car has undergone a careful, period-accurate restoration by Williams Heritage. After its Goodwood appearance, the FW11 is scheduled to show up at Monterey Car Week 2025 in California this August.
The 60th-anniversary celebrations don’t stop there. Honda also plans to showcase the Honda RA272 at the 2025 Mexico City F1 Grand Prix. This is the very car that gave Honda its first F1 race victory. This special display will run from October 24 to 26, 2025. It will happen exactly 60 years after Honda’s first win on the same Hermanos Rodríguez Circuit.
Honda’s Enduring F1 Spirit
For Honda, racing has always been more than just competition. It’s a proving ground. They use the intense pressure of F1 to sharpen their engineers and push their technology forward. This bold approach has led to many wins over the years. Honda remains dedicated to F1, the pinnacle of car racing, because it helps them refine their people and their machines. It also lets them deliver excitement and dreams to motorsports fans everywhere.
Koji Watanabe, president of Honda Racing Corporation, shared his enthusiasm for these events. “The FW11 is an irreplaceable car,” he stated. “It brought Honda its first F1 World Championship title. I want to praise the skills of everyone involved in restoring this special car. I’m also grateful to all who made this opportunity possible.” Watanabe added that more 60th-anniversary events are being planned to bring joy to fans.
Highlights from Honda’s F1 Journey
- 1964-1968: Competed in F1 as a full Honda team (engine and chassis).
- 1965: Achieved their first victory at the Mexican Grand Prix.
- 1983-1992: Participated in F1 as an engine supplier.
- 1986: Won the Constructors’ title (Williams Honda).
- 1987: Won both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles (Williams Honda).
- 1988-1991: Partnered as McLaren Honda, winning Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles.
- 2000-2005: Joined as BAR Honda, supplying engines and developing chassis together.
- 2006-2008: Competed as a full Honda team (engine and chassis).
- 2015-2017: Supplied power units (PU) for McLaren Racing.
- 2018: Started supplying power units to Scuderia Toro Rosso.
- 2019: Began supplying power units to Red Bull Racing.
- 2021: Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) won the Drivers’ Championship; Honda officially ended F1 participation.
- 2022: Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) began technical support for Red Bull Powertrains. Red Bull Racing won the Constructors’ title, and Max Verstappen won the Drivers’ title.
- 2023: Announced plans to return to F1 starting in 2026. Red Bull Racing won the Constructors’ and Drivers’ titles for the second year in a row.
- 2024: Max Verstappen won his fourth consecutive Drivers’ title.