Former Honda boss, Masashi Yamamoto is act as a consultant to Red Bull Powertrains as the Austrian company prepares to build its own engines.

We have established a new company," Yamamoto tells Motorsport.com. "We want to do something that makes people happy, and if we win in F1, then fans will be happy with that.

"We've signed a contract with the company at Red Bull Powertrains," he adds. "The company has me, at the request of Red Bull's Christian Horner and Helmut Marko, to support them. It's a contract between companies, so it's difficult to speak about details, but as one of the members of Red Bull Powertrains, I will undertake work that will help them."

He explains that as the Austrian company takes on the huge task of becoming a manufacturer, it can continue to benefit from the experience of its former supplier.

"If, for example, they want to understand Japanese culture and Honda's culture, and have a closer and better relationship with Honda, we can support it. Basically it's a bridge between Red Bull and Japan," he explains, revealing that he made the decision to leave Honda, where he was managing director of its F1 programme, in the wake of the company's announcement that it was to leave the sport.

"I decided that in March of last year. I was appointed director of motorsports in 2016, and my goal was to win the Super GT championship at first. I was able to achieve that in 2018. For the next three years, I was dedicated to F1. From the beginning, I thought that this work was the culmination of my life at Honda and I thought I could make use of everything I had experienced there.

"I was wondering if we could win with Red Bull for the first time in the first year, and then have a good championship fight with Mercedes in the second year. But that wasn't the case. But, in the third year, with Verstappen's driving ability and the strong Red Bull team we managed to win the championship."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by kenji, 31/01/2022 8:52

"@ Max...It'll probably evolve [ policing the cost cap ] to become an adult version of the old 'pea and thimble' trick. My guess is that the penalties imposed will,to a large extent, determine who does what, when and how.!!! "

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2. Posted by Max Noble, 31/01/2022 2:55

"@Kenji: My thanks for the explanation! As to cost caps, and the FIA… I await with fascination to see how it all develops over the next couple of seasons…"

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3. Posted by kenji, 30/01/2022 13:03

"@ Max.....As Far As I Know. I'm sure that the FIA will have that all covered off. Sooner rather than later stock holdings can and will be traced and comparative qualitative costings done for services rendered would be used in any forensic analysis. Smarter financial entities than your average F1 fan will be definitely on the case."

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4. Posted by Max Noble, 30/01/2022 7:18

"@Kenji - not sure what “AFAIK” was supposed to spell…? Anyway, the point is, read the rule, meet the rules, and push everything you can outside the point of measurement… Setting up companies over international boundaries, then having salaried employees that deliver “fixed price” itemised outcomes for the other party… and where is the cost cap line drawn?

RB: “Hey Company formally known as Honda (CFKAH) - can you please provide a power point presentation on building better Engines, along with a full CFD modelling package of the rear end, plus some vibration analysis and 3D loading models for $25US? Oh, and possible some recommended suspension pick-up pints for stressed members if you’ve time?”

CFKAH: “Sure! For you $25US is a fair and reasonable price for that information! Our 150 salaried employees should have it finished within two months!”

FIA: “Hello Red Bull… what did you pay for this information from CFKAH?”

RB: “$25US. Here is the receipt!”

FIA: “Excellent! Paperwork all good! Carry on!”

…all within the rules :-)"

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5. Posted by kenji, 29/01/2022 0:04

"AFAIK engine costs are excluded from the total cap. Depending where and how the costs are allocated in the new corporate structure between RBP, the new consultancy company and Honda would determine whether or not this arrangement was suitably excluded from the cost cap. One can expect that the FIA legal will be all over these arrangements. What does surprise me is the apparent exclusion of Honda as an official supplier and the attendant marketing benefits!"

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6. Posted by Spindoctor, 28/01/2022 9:56

"Never saw anything like this coming ...
If I read @Max Noble aright he's suggesting that this arrangement might allow inputs into RBR's PU outfit which are at best opaque to the cost cap, at "worst" circumvent it totally."

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7. Posted by Max Noble, 28/01/2022 4:16

"Well… as outlined by PitPass (Cash on Delivery, and Just Numbers in my Magic Square) the teams are tripping over themselves in the rush to form international joint ventures. Given the current FIA woes around lapped, and un-lapped cars at the final race of last season, I’m sure that their Inspector Hound investigator (new role for Masi…?) will be all over these international legal constructs no problem at all… Good work moving off the books Honda."

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8. Posted by Defiant, 27/01/2022 20:16

"Smart move for RB."

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Yamamoto in 'consultancy' role with Red Bull

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