Max Verstappen sounds enthused about Red Bull's Honda-powered future. That is despite the fact that many in the paddock are wondering why a top team would sign up with a Japanese manufacturer whose recent three-year collaboration with McLaren failed so badly.
"Yes I'm surprised," said Sergio Perez in France. "I didn't really think Honda had a good engine."
Verstappen, however, appears to know otherwise. "I was in Japan last year," he told Speed Week. "The engine factory is really great and it was interesting to see how Renault and Honda differ."
Red Bull's often tetchy relationship with Renault is finally ending at the end of the year. Franz Tost, the team boss at Toro Rosso, says he has no regrets about making the switch last year. "We are talking about a completely different cooperation," he said.
"We were customers and sometimes the parts in the box seemed so old that they seemed to come out of a dumpster. Thank God that's not the case with Honda."
And so Dutchman Verstappen says he is not worried about being Honda powered from 2019. "I don't see any reason for concern," he said. "Take a look at the progress with Honda this year. In Canada there was another big step forward. That really looks very positive. I believe in Honda, and obviously my team believes in Honda, otherwise they would not have signed a two-year contract," Verstappen added.
They sorta did, I mean they've leapt back to where they were in 2016, but Im not sure the Renault PU is to thank for all of that. McLaren had steps to take on both engine and chassis side. So while this chassis is nowhere near where it needs to be, its probably better than anything they've had in a long time.
I believe it's the number one reason on why Verstappen signed with Redbull earlier this year. Commiting to Redbull and giving them security that they have one of the best drivers on board will pay divident to all parties envolved.
Ricciardo not signing with Redbull at this stage means that he is not commiting his next couple of years to Redbull/Honda. As I understand it Hamilton has an option of partner refusal if he wins the WC. Most likely it's going to be Ferrari's year so Mercedes will be able sign Ricciardo or some other permutation envolving Mercedes/Ferrari either way he isn't a Redbull driver.
Not sure on who I would put next to Verstappen. I like to see Gasly over Sainz. Selling Sainz to Renault would not be a bad thing. Creating a space in Toro Rosso for an Japanese protege something that's good for F1.
At the moment there are 4 drivers from outside Europe, so just for that reason a Japanese driver would be good for F1, as it is and should be a global sport.
It would also engage more Japanese viewers, they have a GP, and engine manufacturer, so having a driver would make sense.
I agree with Boudy and Kyalamikid on this. We dont necessarily need a Japanese driver, but we need drivers from other parts of the world than just Europe. And Honda do sit on quite a few promising drivers, so I'd say thats a good place to start.
Honda will come good together with Redbull. They are already talking beyond 2020. This link up will have so many crossover points already think of motogp wrc.
Would you like to stay up to date with the latest Lewis Hamilton and Formula 1 news from GPtoday? Activate free push notifications and be the first to know!
8
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
I. Hadjar
A. Antonelli
C. Leclerc
982 members have this team as their favourite
KyalamiKid
Posts: 146
I agree, and it s not that McLaren (who laid all the blame for their failure at Honda) , have suddenly leapt forward with Renault...