HONDA’S JOURNEY FROM DIVORCE TO REDEMPTION

SEPTEMBER 2017 NIGHTMARE’S END

Mclaren splits with Honda. Honda sets a bold target of fighting for the top three with Toro Rosso in 2018. Outgoing Honda F1 boss Yusuke Hasegawa admits the divorce leaves him feeling “relief”.

FEBRUARY 2018 THE RECOVERY BEGINS Hasegawa is succeeded by Toyoharu Tanabe, who becomes Honda’s technical director. Life with Toro Rosso begins with strong reliability and performance in pre-season testing. APRIL 2018 HONDA’S BEST RESULT SO FAR

Honda suffers an engine failure in Australia, but fits a new MGU-H to both Toro Rossos for Bahrain and Pierre Gasly has a stunning run to finish fourth, Honda’s best result since returning to F1.

JULY 2018 RED BULL’S VOTE OF CONFIDENCE

Tough races in China and Azerbaijan follow, but re-imagining energy management helps boost form thereafter. A strong upgrade in Canada is the final validation Red Bull needs to decide Honda is a credible alternative to Renault for 2019.

OCTOBER 2018 HONDA’S NEW MGU-H

An internal collaboration between Honda’s F1 and jet engine divisions results in a new MGU-H. Introduction is delayed by one week to refine calibration but Toro Rosso score its best qualifying result of the season on the new engine’s debut at the Japanese GP.

MARCH 2019 SOLID START WITH RED BULL

Verstappen’s pre-shakedown excitement continues through a solid pre-season programme in which Honda suffers no major dramas with Red Bull. At the Australian GP, Verstappen scores a podium on the new partnership’s first start, ending an 11-year wait for a Honda rostrum.

JUNE 2019 THE FIRST WIN

Red Bull’s form dips after the strong start as Mercedes emerges with a clear advantage. Chassis and engine progress chips away at the gap and Verstappen makes a stunning late-race pass on Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to win the Austrian GP.

JULY 2019 AN ALL-ROUND PACKAGE EMERGES

Verstappen should be on the podium at Silverstone, one of Red Bull’s weakest tracks in recent years, then wins a chaotic German GP and takes pole in Hungary. Red Bull declares clear progress towards its goal of being a contender at every track.

SEPTEMBER 2019 ’SPEC 4’ AND NEW HOPE

Honda hopes for validation of its latest upgrade at power-sensitive Spa and Monza but circumstances conspire against Red Bull, which isn’t a factor at either race. An expected victory bid in Singapore falls short, but Verstappen beats both Mercedes. The focus then switched to Honda’s home race in Japan.