Horner explains why Honda only extended until 2021

Honda recently announced that it extended its engine partnership with Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso/AlphaTauri until 2021 at least. Good news for the future of the two Taureau Rouge stables even if the relatively modest duration of the renewal did not fail to raise concerns. Especially since the architecture of the V6 turbo hybrids is supposed not to change until at least 2025. 

« It's great news that they have decided to extend beyond 2020, confided Christian Horner at the microphone of Sky Sports in comments reported by crash.net. We thus have a precise vision of the two seasons to come. They are waiting to see in which direction the regulations will evolve in 2021 and 2022, mainly on the issues of homologation and engine freezing with the aim of reducing costs. 

Current thrusters and the technology they include are extremely expensive. All the engine manufacturers involved would like to see the bill lower. We talked about the future together and there is a real desire to build on the foundations laid this season. This is an excellent partnership between Red Bull and Honda and we were able to reap the benefits this year. The key to moving discussions forward is greater clarity on engine rules ». 

Eager to erase the affront of a return to F1 failed with McLaren in 2015-17, Honda has been spending lavishly for years, with some announcing OFF crazy sums of several tens of millions of dollars invested annually by the Sakura firm, or even more.

If the efforts have clearly borne fruit this season with three victories and two pole positions for Red Bull-Honda through Max Verstappen, such a waste of resources is not viable in the long term. In the meantime, Horner can only welcome a 2019 campaign that exceeded all expectations in the Austro-Japanese clan. 

« Engine reliability has been excellent and performance has continued to improve, added the English manager. You can see the pride and passion that drives Honda, it's great to be part of this common adventure ».