AND HOW DOES ASTON MARTIN FIT IN?
Aston Martin became Red Bull’s title sponsor this year and, by rebadging the team’s Renault engine as a “TAG Heuer”, there was no awkwardness in having two carmakers in the title. Aston Martin Red Bull Racing-tag Heuer RB14 is the car’s of cial name.
The arrival of Honda changes that, but Aston Martin CEO, Andy Palmer, says there is no issue for his company having to share space with Honda.
“Very clearly, the team name is Aston Martin Red Bull Racing and then, of course, the FIA adds the engine-manufacturer name. But let’s be brutally honest: while it was called TAG, everybody knew it was a Renault. And in that sense, what is the difference between whether it is a Renault or a Honda? Aston Martin has zero cross-shopping with both brands. So we are completely indifferent to the name.
“The criteria for us is a very simple one: do everything you can to win. And clearly the team felt that, by going over from Renault to Honda, it is going to give them a better chance of winning. In that sense, I commend the decision.”
It’s also signi cant that Aston Martin is waiting for the F1 engine regulations for 2021 to be announced in order to assess whether or not a step forward as a F1 power-unit manufacturer is feasible. If the Honda deal doesn’t work, Red Bull could have an alternative if Aston Martin goes ahead with an engine plan.