Honda “more integrated” with Red Bull than Renault ever was: Verstappen

According to Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing’s partnership with Honda has been a fruitful experience for both sides. The current championship leader believes this is due to the higher level of integration the Japanese team has achieved compared to Renault.

While the Red Bull-Renault partnership resulted in four consecutive titles from 2010 to 2013, it ended bitterly when the French team produced sub-par engines during the V6 turbo era. Red Bull was not in the fight for the title and had a serious disadvantage for the Mercedes-powered teams.

Red Bull has since entered into a harmonious partnership with Honda and is in the middle of the 2021 title fight.

With Honda now on its way out of Formula 1, Verstappen was asked by RacingNews365 about the relative difference between the two partnerships. He said:

“The relationship is different now, simply because we are much more integrated than before. It’s just a completely different mentality, and I’m not saying this to criticize Renault, but it’s completely different. I like working with Honda.”

Verstappen also pointed out that the special Honda livery of the team cars at the Turkish Grand Prix was originally intended for the Japanese Grand Prix. He said:

“The paintwork was intended for the Japanese Grand Prix weekend in Suzuka, but it’s nice that we’re still putting it on the car in Turkey. That shows how good the relationship is. [It was] very nice to see. “

Red Bull Racing wore a special paint job at this year’s Turkish Grand Prix as a tribute to its outgoing engine supplier Honda. (Photo by Mark Thompson / Getty Images

Has Red Bull exaggerated the Honda partnership compared to Renault?

Can you pass the ?????? test?





It’s quiz time

Can you pass the ?????? test?





It’s quiz time

One blatant difference between the two partnerships was the lack of cutlery that Red Bull achieved with Honda compared to Renault.

With Renault, Red Bull was able to set important records in Formula 1. The same cannot be said of his relationship with Honda. The team is finally able to fight for its first title with Honda, while trotting four titles with Renault.

However, the apparent aversion to Renault in the Red Bull camp was widespread even during their championship reign. Renault reportedly never supplied Red Bull with engines that matched the class of the field. Its success was more likely to be attributed to the genius of aerodynamicist Adrian Newey in an era when engines weren’t too different.

also read

When the situation changed in 2014, Renault was unwilling to work together at the levels necessary for the teams to succeed, creating tension and ultimately the end of the partnership with Red Bull.

Honda, on the other hand, has integrated well into Red Bull and in turn made engine improvements available to them at short intervals and kept the relationship harmonious despite the apparent lack of success.

Edited by Sandeep Banerjee

Sign in to reply