Leading Japanese business newspaper Nikkei says that Honda’s return to F1 will be confirmed by the company president Takanobu Ito “some time soon.”

Other reports from Japan say the announcement could be as early as this week.

Nikkei says that as has been widely expected the manufacturer will be back with McLaren in 2015, leaving the team with a single year with the Mercedes turbo.

While Honda’s plans have been an open secret apparent confirmation from the sources of a respected Japanese media outlet is nevertheless an interesting development.

Martin Whitmarsh refused to confirm in Spain that McLaren has not taken up its option to continue with Mercedes into 2015.

While a one-year delay would seem to give Honda plenty of time to see what Renault, Mercedes and Ferrari have done one rival manufacturer told this blog that if Honda does race in 2015 it would still have to fix many key parameters before other engines appear in public in January 2014.