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Verstappen has 'plan B' if Honda project fails

Published on 05 Dec 2018 12:09
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By: Fergal Walsh

Max Verstappen claims that he has a plan B if Red Bull's partnership with Honda doesn't produce a title challenge. Honda will become Red Bull's engine supplier next year after spending the 2018 season with its junior team, Toro Rosso.

Red Bull has not been in title contention throughout the V6 hybrid era, often citing the lack of power emitted from the Renault power unit as its biggest issue. Earlier this year, the Milton Keynes outfit announced that it would end its long-term partnership with Renault at the end of the season.

Honda made some evident improvements in 2018 with Toro Rosso, as it moved on from its disastrous three-year campaign with McLaren. Verstappen says that he has complete faith in Red Bull, and has called on Honda to produce the goods on the engine side.

“I really like this team and I’m sure we can build the fastest car ever,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport. “We just need the engine to reach the right level. Next year we must try to go strong and set the stage for 2020, when the project is fighting for the title. There is always a Plan B.” he added.

'Red Bull never tire of praising Honda'

Tensions have been rising between Red Bull and Renault for the last number of years, and Cyril Abiteboul has predicted that Red Bull will continue to talk down on Renault next year when the Honda partnership gets underway.

“It’s hard for me today to set goals for next year,” Abiteboul said in an interview with Auto Motor und Sport. “It always depends a bit on the performance of the others in the sport. But if the curve is up like ours, you want this trend to continue.

“We may not succeed in terms of a Constructors’ position, but we want to narrow the gap to the top. Let’s wait and see what happens with Red Bull and Honda. Red Bull never tire of telling how good Honda is compared to us. May I state that Toro Rosso is still behind us?”

calle.itw

Posts: 8,527

Well yes, but may I state that you compare yourself with an underfunded team, mr. Abiteboullshit?

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Dec 5 2018 - 13:25

F1 News Max Verstappen Cyril Abiteboul Renault McLaren Honda

Replies (5)

calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
Well yes, but may I state that you compare yourself with an underfunded team, mr. Abiteboullshit?
- + 1
- Dec 5 2018 - 13:25
mcbhargav

Posts: 1,332
Whoa. Did he really talk about Plan B, even before the start of Plan A. He is a proper match for Dr. Marko.
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- Dec 5 2018 - 17:21
KyalamiKid

Posts: 146
Merc or Ferrari will sign him in a heartbeat...
He needs a plan B anyway - RB is pulling out if the Honda things doesnt work... or will they?
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- Dec 5 2018 - 18:11
boudy

Posts: 1,168
Every top driver has an alternative strategy when it doesn't work out with their current team. It was close between Mercedes and Redbull when they initially signed him. He did do the winter series for Ferrari also so there is an relation with Ferrari already.
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- Dec 5 2018 - 19:17
sadosalo

Posts: 198
Max appreciate RBR as special the relation with Dr. Marko is very good, he will stay with RBR no doubt its mature to have a plan B. Max is the fastest on the grid for sure the top teams want him bad. But if Honda does not work out maybe RBR pulls out of F1 and Max need to think about his future. Congrats to Lewis as the team bosses voted him driver # 1 for 2018, Max 2nd, Vettel 3rd and Alonso 4th, Maurizio Arrivabene solely did not vote. Lots of politics of course as Max should be # 1 but hey this voting stuff is of the track.
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- Dec 5 2018 - 21:54