Honda admits gap to leading F1 engines is "still there"
Honda's 2019 Formula 1 season has been better than technical director Toyoharu Tanabe expected but he admits the gap to the leaders is "still there".

With new partner Red Bull, Honda has secured its first victory since rejoining F1 in 2015 and ended a win drought that stretched back to 2006.
Tanabe joined the F1 project ahead of the 2018 season and has been a key player in Honda's improved reliability and development process.
He told Motorsport.com: "When we started the Barcelona test and the first race, early in the season, I saw a big gap between our performance and the top runners' performance.
"We kept pushing and working very hard to reduce the gap, but it's still there. We've got two victories with Max [Verstappen], the good thing is Toro Rosso got one podium.
"Germany was a very tricky race, the teams and drivers worked very precisely and reacted very quickly to changing conditions. It gave us a good result.
"So far, [it has gone] better than I expected. But our desire is more than the current results. I know it's not easy.
"We have the team, driver and engine working well, and can achieve our goal. That's what I'm thinking now."
Read Also:
Honda has introduced two upgrades already in 2019, which has helped it close that initial gap to leading engine manufacturers Ferrari and Mercedes.
Verstappen's victories in Austria and Germany were split by a strong performance in Britain, where Red Bull has struggled in recent years, and followed by the first Red Bull-Honda pole in Hungary.
Tanabe, who is often reserved with his emotions, said: "It's a little difficult to show you my mind, but actually I am very happy!
"People are working very hard at Sakura and there are many people watching us inside of Honda.
"The first win is one of the milestones. But our target is higher. I'm very happy, but we don't stop. Always another, another, one more.
"The goal is the championship. We are still far from the championship."
Verstappen's pole in Hungary translated into second place in the race, as Mercedes outgunned Red Bull on strategy and allowed Lewis Hamilton to win.
Tanabe said that performance showed "there is a gap" between Mercedes and Red Bull-Honda, and was further evidence for how much it still needs to improve.
"Not only this race, but also from the first race," he said. "We can summarise the gap or performance difference between Mercedes and us.
"That type of data gives us a kind of target or real answer to our gap."

Previous article
Haas to end split-spec experiment in Belgium
Next article
The tiny change that transformed Red Bull's F1 performance

About this article
Series | Formula 1 |
Teams | Red Bull Racing |
Author | Scott Mitchell |
Honda admits gap to leading F1 engines is "still there"
Trending
The Silver Arrows Story: Mercedes W09
Scuderia Ferrari Filming Day Backstage Footage
Back to Work | Valtteri Bottas' 2021 Seat Fit
F1 Explained | Mercedes Power Unit
The mantra Ocon must follow to challenge Alonso at Alpine
OPINION: It's been an uneasy ride for Esteban Ocon since his F1 comeback - and fresh challenges lie in wait as he's joined by double world champion Fernando Alonso in the newly rebranded Alpine team. STUART CODLING sets out a roadmap to success…
Why Haas is willing to sacrifice its 2021 F1 season
Every Formula 1 team is facing the same difficult decision this season: how do you split precious aero development time between the current car and the all-new 2022 project?
The big questions of F1 2021 - Karun Chandhok
After an unprecedented season last year, there are plenty of questions and storylines for the upcoming Formula 1 campaign. Sky Sports F1 pundit Karun Chandhok gives his verdict.
How McLaren F1’s new investors have already made an impact
The deal McLaren concluded with MSP Sports Capital last year which will help the cash-strapped Formula 1 team pay for much-needed infrastructure upgrades, also points toward the future for F1 itself, says GP Racing's Stuart Codling.
Why Verstappen isn't interested in the hype game
In a pre-season where Red Bull has been unusually quiet, Max Verstappen has also been guarded about the team's fortunes in 2021. Even after trying the RB16B for the first time at Silverstone, the Dutchman was careful to manage expectations
The pros and cons of F1's 2021 rule changes
In the strategy for grand prix racing's future, 2021 represents a significant step towards the goal of closer racing and a more level playing field. That's the theory behind the latest raft of changes, but will they have the desired effect?
What Red Bull is trying to hide with its RB16B launch
Red Bull made no secret of the fact its 2021 F1 car is an evolution of its predecessor, but in keeping the same foundations while hiding some tightly-guarded updates with its RB16B, the team aims to avoid suffering the same pitfalls of previous years
How Albon plans to fight his way out of Red Bull limbo
Alex Albon has faced the media for the first time since he lost his Red Bull drive at the end of 2020 and dropped out of a Formula 1 race seat altogether. He has a history of bouncing back from setbacks, so here's what he must do to rise again