Honda has confirmed that it will only supply one team with engines when it returns to the sport in 2015, McLaren.

Having unceremoniously left the sport at the end of 2008, the fruit of its efforts belatedly paying off in 2009 when Brawn GP took both the drivers' and constructors' titles, the Japanese company returns to F1 next year in partnership with McLaren, a partnership that became one of the most successful and powerful in the sport's history during the 1980s and ’90s.

Speaking at today's official press conference in Shanghai, the company's motorsport boss, Yasuhisa Arai, dismissed rumours that Honda would be supplying other teams in 2015, or indeed 2016, whilst refusing to comment on who might become a customer in 2017 and beyond.

"For 2015, McLaren is our only customer," he told reporters. "I don't think about the future, because we want to concentrate on next season."

Pushed under the assumption that the Japanese giant must have factored the income from potential customer teams into its budget, Arai continued to give nothing away, whilst appearing to suggest that the McLaren deal is exclusive for 2016 also.

"Of course we want to have good results next season and see the results from other manufacturers," he said. "Please chose our power unit for next season. If teams want to use our engine or power unit, we can deliver after year 2016 but right now there are no plans."

Chris Balfe