After winning the last race of the F1 era with 1500cc engines, Honda had fallen behind in the development of the new 3000cc car. The styling of the V12 was lengthy. Although very powerful (around 400 horsepower), the 3-liter engine was also heavy, and the new car, the RA273, weighed around 250kg more than the minimum allowed by the regulation. The RA273 had a conventional monocoque, 5-speed gearbox, Goodyear tires and 15 ”wheels. The team's European base was in England, in Slough, east of London. The car made its debut at the Monza GP, with Richie Ginther, who was seriously injured when he went off the road while he was second. Two new RA273s were lined up for the last two GPs of the season, for Ronnie Bucknum and for the re-established Ginther himself. The best result was Ginther’s 4th place in Mexico, thanks to which Honda finished 8th in the constructors' championship.