Honda set for 500th F1 entry in Austin, but not 500th start

Honda is set to record its 500th Formula 1 Grand Prix entry at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, making it the fifth engine manufacturer to reach the mark. Ferrari, Renault, Mercedes and Ford-Cosworth have reached 500 entries before it.

Honda's trackside general manager and chief engineer Shintaro Orihara said the milestone adds excitement and pride to the weekend. He described the Circuit of the Americas as demanding, with fast, flowing sections and heavy traction zones.

The milestone is for entries, not starts. Honda's first F1 entry came at the 1964 German Grand Prix; before Austin, it has 499 entries and 498 starts. The gap dates to the 2005 United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis, when Honda was among the Michelin teams that pulled into the pits at the end of the formation lap. Jenson Button and Takuma Sato were officially credited as non-starters.