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Red Bull Technology already working with Honda

Published on 30 Nov 2017 09:56
10
By: Rob Veenstra

Red Bull is already working with Honda, amid rumours they will go racing together in 2019. Already next year, given the Japanese marque's breakup with McLaren, Honda will supply engines exclusively to the Red Bull junior team Toro Rosso.

And Dr Helmut Marko revealed to the German broadcaster Sky that Red Bull Technology is lending a hand. "Right now, we're working hard with Honda to make this a competitive package with Toro Rosso," he said. "We are very pleased with the progress Honda is making and will continue to make until the start of the season."

It is the strongest sign yet that, with Red Bull's Renault engine deal ending after 2019, a Red Bull-Honda tie-up for 2019 is probable. Marko said Red Bull will support Honda "for example with the facilities that Red Bull Technology has".

He said Red Bull will then stand back and track the progress of the Toro Rosso-Honda package next year. "We'll take a look and only then can I say in the middle of next year what we're going to do," he said. (GMM)

F1 News Red Bull Racing

Replies (10)

calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
Marko is full of shit, so I never really bother listening to him, except once a month, and he has already spent his sensible comment of the month earlier. Mind, you could work with them in a myriad of ways. The primary way in this scenario is probably that Red Bull is keeping an eye on Honda's direction, routines and progress, and maybe give them a hand here and there. There really are two likely scenarios for Red Bull. 1. They stick with Renault until something new comes around in 2021. 2. Honda beats Renault in 2018, and Red Bull jumps le ship and join the Japs.
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- Nov 30 2017 - 13:39
- boudy
  
  Posts: 1,168
  Renault has indicated that they don't want to continue with RB. I believe that this reciprocated by Redbull. Honda has already ties with Redbull (motoGP). I believe that they will improve over the winter period so the PU question for Redbull will be resolved by switching to Honda. Might they even do this during the 2018 season?
  
  The other thing that sticks in my mind is that Verstappen signed for them again; I don't believe that that move was only based on $$$. Something is going on with Redbull ..
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  Nov 30 2017 - 15:46
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  That much is certain. Im more unsure on if the switch will be done to Honda. Its true they work with Honda in several series, but that apply for many other manufacturers. Red Bull isnt loyal, they grab the best they can get. If Honda dont beat Renault, Im pretty sure they'll keep the Renault deal until something else crop up. Either way, it wont be midseason.
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  Nov 30 2017 - 20:55
RacetoWin

Posts: 95
Redbull has the best engineers and only the renault engine is holding them back, their modded renault power plant is still way above the factory spec unit and they can to help progress the honda like they did the renault.

renault will not allow customer teams to beat them in the next year or two, they will do everything to collect as much points and cash they can.

moving to honda who is hungry is a much better option, the races redbull won this year could've still been done if they were using a honda engine. the mclaren is a brick in the wind and they blame honda because their drag causes a lower top speed, next year mclaren itself will be in doubt.
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- Nov 30 2017 - 17:53
- Dash_Riprock
  
  Posts: 6
  If you keep saying the same bullshit on a different website, does it make it true? LOL
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  Nov 30 2017 - 18:53
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Their unit isnt modded, and Im not even sure it'd be legal to do that with a homologated F1 unit. Its a customer Renault unit, identical to Toro Rosso's units in all but the name, and thats because TAG Heuer paid for them. Heck, if you look at it, works Renault has been ever so slightly faster on straights on track with high aero setups, meaning they had more power available. But what you say about Renault limiting their customers is true.
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  Nov 30 2017 - 20:50
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  The Renault units TAG Heuer supplied Renault with were not modified. Im not even sure if it'd be legal to modify a homologated unit. No, Red Bull was supplied with the exact same customer engine as Toro Rosso, and all of the support and such were handled by Renault. Meanwhile, the works Renault team had the same units but with more control over it. They could turn it up to press more power out of it, which is why they could set better straight line speed traps than their customers on tracks where RB was unable to use their low drag setup.
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  Dec 1 2017 - 06:27
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Well, I didnt intend for that to happen. I went in this morning and noticed that my previous comment wasnt up, and self-important as I am, I just had to post another just to be on the safe side.
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  Dec 1 2017 - 19:12
Dash_Riprock

Posts: 6
Good luck trying to get through the entire season with only 3 Honda engines.
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- Nov 30 2017 - 18:54
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  The same sadly goes for all but Mercedes, and thats what worries me. 4 were bad, but 3?
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  Nov 30 2017 - 20:51