Honda on Thursday made a major change at the top of its Formula One engine supply operation, parting ways with chief Yusuke Hasegawa and eliminating his position.
With the Japanese automaker's supply of engines to the McLaren F1 team finishing at the end of the 2017 season, Hasegawa is being replaced by Toyoharu Tanabe, who will take up the newly created position of F1 technical director.
After a difficult three-season relationship with Honda, McLaren in September negotiated a release from its contract, with the team signing up to field Renault engines for 2018. Around the same time, Honda announced a deal to supply engines to the Toro Rosso team for next season.