Helmut Marko: “We don’t dictate anything to Honda”

While the starting grid will be greatly shaken up in 2019 on the drivers' side, among the teams, the next season will be marked by the change of engine manufacturer Red Bull Racing, which will move from its historical partner Renault to Honda.

A transition that the Milton Keynes stable was able to prepare, based in particular on the “clearing” carried out by its little sister Toro Rosso, already equipped with the Japanese V6 turbo / hybrid Power Unit this year.

A choice which will put an end to a relationship which has become more than complicated with Renault in recent years and which will undoubtedly Helmut Marko, Red Bull motorsport consultant, will be beneficial, including in terms of the working relationship.

“Honda will strengthen its efforts, underlines the Austrian on Servus TV, in comments reported by Speedweek. No other team can count on a development center like that of Sakura (Japan). We will be ahead of Renault in 2019. 

The Japanese have a completely different approach. We will be partners and a factory team, whereas we were only customers with Renault. And we don't dictate anything to Honda, as was able to do McLaren. We discuss things together. »

Honda made its return in F1 in 2015, to reform the legendary alliance with McLaren, provider of so much success at the end of the 80s. But in three seasons, the British-Japanese agreement failed to meet expectations, McLaren swapping its Japanese block for the Renault since 2018.