Honda, Red Bull deal
‘TWO TEAMS WILL MEAN TWICE AS MUCH DATA’
Honda and the Red Bull Group have signed an agreement whereby Honda will supply Red Bull Racing with power units for two years from the start of the 2019 Formula One World Championship.
This will be in addition to its current agreement with Red Bull Scuderia Toro Rosso. The two Red Bull-owned teams will run identical specification Honda power units.
Takahiro Hachigo, president of the Honda Motor Company, said: “Having established a good relationship with Scuderia Toro Rosso, we have decided to extend our Formula One involvement to the other team in the Red Bull family, Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, as from next year.
“Having two teams will mean we can access twice as much data as previously. We believe that working with both Toro Rosso and Red Bull Racing will allow us to get closer to our goal of winning races and championships.
“Discussions proceeded very quickly, thanks to Red Bull’s open and respectful attitude towards Honda, leading to a deal that is fair and equitable for all parties,” he added. Dr Helmut Marko, Red Bull motorsport advisor, said: “This partnership with Honda signals a new era for Red Bull Group in Formula One. “We have been extremely impressed by Honda’s commitment and progress and share like-minded ambitions to compete for championships. With this integrated approach between the companies, we look forward to working with Honda.” Christian Horner, Aston Martin Red Bull Racing team principal, said: “This multiyear agree- ment with Honda signals the start of an exciting new phase in Aston Martin Red Bull Racing’s efforts to compete not just for Grand Prix wins, but for what is always our goal: championship titles.
“We have always taken decisions such as this dispassionately and with only one criteria in mind – we must believe the outcome will allow us to compete at a higher level. We are certain this partnership with Honda is the right direction for the team.
“We have been impressed by Honda’s commitment to F1, by the rapid steps they have made in recent times with our sister team Scuderia Toro Rosso, and by the scope of their ambition, which matches our own.” – Honda Motor Company
We think the deal is equitable to both parties.