They have to make a decision pretty soon. So, will they ditch Renault and take a Honda deal?
I said yes, because I think the atmosphere between Abiteboul (Renault) and Marko (RB) has reached boiling point, according to the French press. Already a sore in Renault's side 2 years ago (the PU were rebadged TAG HEUER then), criticisms have piled up on Abiteboul's doorstep about his inaptitude to deliver the power needed. The marriage Toro Rosso- Honda was a toe in the water, and Red Bull may be about to switch completely to the Japanese side. I don't think Renault will be sorry to see red Bull go. But then again, I may be all wrong !!!
yep. RedBull and Renault have had friction over the years. Honda with Toro Rosso was a "field testing" exercise for RedBull....so far, Honda has proven, reliability wise, that it was not Honda's fault during the Mclaren years(okay maybe the first two years was Honda). This year, Honda is focusing on the performance side of its PU...even though they still bring more engines just in case they need to swap out and send back to Japan for inspection and at any cost. Honda is committed.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/136655/gasly-drops-to-back-row-with-new-honda-engine This may not help lol
Yes. Would have happened years ago if Mclaren’s veto coupled to their crappy chassis, insufficient cooling and constant blame games didn’t hamper Honda’s progress.
As long as Honda gives developmental control to RB they will succeed - IMO Honda's inhouse program has failed they need to fund and brand and leave the rest to RB
It' a gamble worth taking for RB. All that Honda yen on the table won't hurt either. Extra cash keeps the sugar drinks peddler interested in F1 until the engine is a world beater. Easy scapegoat for RB if things go kablooey though.
I have no doubt that Honda is offering big $$$$ to Red Bull to make the switch. Therefore, Renault would have to offer similar $$$$ to Red Bull to stay with them. But, because they have their own team, the powers that be within the Renault works team would scream bloody murder about paying another team to compete against them. They go with Honda. BTW, it's growing increasingly clear that the problems at McLaren were just as much the chassis as the engine. Look at where McLaren stands vs. the Renault factory team and Red Bull this season.
anyone saying, "RedBull has nothing to lose by going with Honda as they won't win a WCC with Renault" should talk to McLaren. You have A LOT to lose if the Honda engine goes south.....like a whole lotta points......and Sponsors.......and drivers.........and engineers/key people. Just imagine if McLaren had stuck with McLaren Mercedes for 2015-2017. No WDC/WCC BUT I would bet podiums and maybe even a few race wins that Red Bull picked up when Ferrari/Mercedes screw up. I don't blame Ron Dennis for wanting to make McLaren a stand alone Works team.....I would have done the same thing now, Torro Rosso had nothing to lose by going with Honda and I applaud their discussion. Their Renault/chassis combo wasn't getting them anywhere. It was well worth the risk to become a first time ever WORKS TEAM(thats huge) and possibly gain an edge.
If I was RB I would not be interested in how much they would offer. RB is rich anyway. What RB lacks is a partner that can bring them an engine that can bring them the world title. My question to Honda would be how much they want to keep on spending on development and how committed they will be after 2021.
Very difficult decision. Honda a worse engine and less reliable. But Renault doesn't appear to be going forwards much.
Looks to be yet another nasty divorce in this hybrid era. Honda divorced Mclaren, Renault marry's Mclaren. RedBull might divorce Renault, and marry's Honda. Man, Renault and Honda really get around!!!!
Do not forget that for many years, McLaren was considered as Mercedes works team, the German holding 40% of the shares . The launch of the road car business alongside the racing team didn't please Mercedes. Mercedes went on to disinvest from McLaren and switch its support to Brawn. What followed brought years of misery with Honda, and Ron Dennis' sacking.
There are mediocre engines you have to pay for, and, there are mediocre engines that come with money attached. It's the same with drivers, really ...
Honda improvement worth three tenths says Marko JUNE 12, 2018 Red Bull looks to be speeding towards a switch to works Honda power for 2019. We already revealed that the team is planning an announcement for its home race in Austria, and Auto Bild now claims it will probably be a switch from Renault to Honda engines. Red Bull apparently made the decision in Montreal, after analysing the difference between new specifications brought by both Renault and Honda. It is believed Honda's improvement, installed in the Toro Rosso cars, impressed Red Bull. "We're talking about three tenths a lap," said Red Bull's Helmut Marko.
can anyone explain the difference in engine architecture between the honda and the other engines? i sat at the hairpin at montreal an the honda engine sounds like a bucket of bolts. as if its miss firing and ready to fail.
Is this the switch (or potential of) partly why Ricci hasn't decided on where to go next year? ie if RB signs w Honda he skedaddles? or he's bent on leaving RB either way as soon as something opens up at Ferrari or Mercedes?