THAT LED TO HONDA AND RED BULL

At a stroke, Red Bull had become a works team rather than a customer in a queue, taking developments one-step behind the power unit supplier’s own team, and paying for the privilege. The boot is on the other foot insofar as Honda will contribute nance as well as horsepower. After all that Red Bull has been through, it’s a winwin situation, hopefully in the truest sense of the expression early in the relationship.

“We decided that, based on the information we had after Montreal, our decision, driven by engineering, was pretty clear-cut,” said Red Bull’s Christian Horner. “Rather than things getting delayed or taking further time – Renault was also keen to have a decision as soon as possible to get its own plans in place – we felt the time was right to make a decision and commitment, and make that announcement before the French Grand Prix at the end of June.

“Our design team was also keen to know so they could get on with next year’s car. Obviously, the hybrid era has been one of frustration for us. We have been impressed by Honda’s commitment to F1, by the rapid steps it has made in recent times with our sister team Scuderia Toro Rosso, and by the scope of its ambition, which matches our own.”