Breaking news
Formula 1
Verstappen: Honda progress is testing Red Bull's durability
Max Verstappen believes Honda's progress with its engine is allowing Red Bull to test the durability of its own parts of its Formula 1 car more than with Renault.
Scott Mitchell
Edited: Aug 12, 2019, 5:56 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Red Bull switched to Honda power for 2019 after 12 seasons partnered with Renault, but its quartet of titles with the French manufacturer from 2010-2013 gave way to five years of difficulty in the V6 turbo-hybrid era.
Honda has powered Verstappen to two wins so far in 2019 and had an exemplary reliability record, but the 21-year-old says that progress has also had an additional benefit for Red Bull.
"Yes we did have mechanical failures from the car and not the power unit last year, but they also came because we never had the reliability to test up to the limit," said Verstappen.
"Honda is spending so much time on the dyno and then we also find out our limits from the parts on the car, so we never had that before.
"You never had an idea if your car was strong enough or not and you only found that out from retiring, so the whole preparation before you get into a season is so much better.
"The car and the power unit are very reliable."
Read Also:
- Honda surprised to be so close to top F1 teams
- Verstappen: Pole the result of pushing Honda engine to the limit
Verstappen has completed every grand prix this season and not finished lower than fifth, something no other driver has managed this yer.
"Everything is open, we fully work together and we try to help them, they try to help us in how to do things better, so we are fully committed to each other," said Verstappen's of Red Bull's relationship with Honda.
"They are winners, we are winners, we all want to win together, so we want to always get the best out of it."
Red Bull trails Ferrari by 44 points in the constructors' championship despite Verstappen being third in the drivers' contest.
That is because Pierre Gasly is struggling in the second Red Bull and only has 63 points to Verstappen's 181.
However, Verstappen is not sure Red Bull has truly overtaken Ferrari as the second-best team in F1 at the moment, despite impressive form in the last few grands prix.
"We just seem to execute the weekend better than them and bring the results back," said Verstappen.
"But they are still very fast, some tracks a bit faster than other tracks – with longer straights of course they seem very dominant.
"It is still not very clear where we are: second or third. One thing is for sure, Mercedes is still ahead and that is what we have to target."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Debate: Could Kvyat take Gasly's seat?
Next article F1 teams reviewing Pirelli target letter for 2020-21
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Scott Mitchell
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Formula 1
Formula 1
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Formula 1
Formula 1
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
Formula 1
Formula 1
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
Latest news
FIA expects F1 races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi to continue as planned
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
4 h
FIA expects F1 races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi to continue as planned
TDS Racing doubles down on IMSA program with two-car LMP2 return
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 4 h
TDS Racing doubles down on IMSA program with two-car LMP2 return
Why Isack Hadjar doesn’t like F1 sprints anymore
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
4 h
Why Isack Hadjar doesn’t like F1 sprints anymore
Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen to race for JR Motorsports again in 2027
NASCAR O'Reilly
NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly
Phoenix II
5 h
Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen to race for JR Motorsports again in 2027
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe