Honda Racing Corporation Confirms 2027 Leadership Succession
Koji Watanabe will retire as President and CEO of Honda Racing Corporation on 1 January 2027.
Honda Racing Corporation leadership will transition from Koji Watanabe to Keiichi Yasuda in 2027. Watanabe will retire from his role as HRC President and CEO on 1 January 2027, with current Honda Executive Vice President Keiichi Yasuda confirmed as his successor.
Keiichi Yasuda will become HRC CEO after Watanabe. The change is described by Honda as a planned periodic personnel rotation. It aims to strengthen management and accelerate next-generation business expansion amid global transformation.
Watanabe's tenure and achievements
Koji Watanabe became head of Honda's racing division in 2022. He assumed the presidency of the newly unified HRC that same year, merging the company's four-wheel and two-wheel motorsport activities into a single entity.
Under his leadership, Honda executed a significant strategic U-turn. The company reversed an earlier decision to leave Formula 1, committing instead to return as a full works power unit partner with the Aston Martin team for the 2026 season. Watanabe also oversaw a global expansion of the HRC structure.
"It is my honour serving as a president of HRC with the wonderful colleagues," Watanabe said. He noted that since 2022, the decision to return to F1 was made and the global motorsport structure was expanded.
Yasuda's background and vision
Keiichi Yasuda brings a distinct management profile to the top racing role. He currently holds the position of Executive Vice President and Representative Director at Honda. Yasuda previously served as head of human resources for Honda's racing division and has experience as president of overseas local entities.
He framed his upcoming mission as one of continuity and strengthening. "I consider it my mission to firmly inherit the solid foundation built by Watanabe," Yasuda stated. He aims to unite the organisation toward the single goal of winning races.
Leveraging his HR background and overseas management experience, Yasuda indicated a focus on investing in people and strengthening the organisational framework to pursue victory.
Organisational expansion under Watanabe
The restructuring of Honda's global racing operations was a hallmark of Watanabe's presidency. In the United States, the established Honda Performance Development (HPD) was reorganised into an entity named HRC US.
Furthermore, the company established a new UK base, HRC UK. This expansion was designed to support HRC's broader global motorsport activities and brand building.
Keiichi Yasuda will become HRC CEO after Watanabe.
