Red Bull respect Honda’s decision to quit Formula One, says Horner

Team boss noted that they are well-equipped to deal with the obvious challenges that will be presented by the departure

Red Bull respect engine supplier Honda s decision

’ to leave Formula One at the end of 2021 and are well-equipped to deal with the obvious challenges presented by the departure, “” team boss Christian Horner said on Friday.

Honda said in a statement it wanted to focus its research & development resources on energy technologies, including for fuel cells and battery electric vehicles.

The Japanese carmaker supplies two Red Bull-owned F1 teams Red Bull Racing and

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Italy-based AlphaTauri [previously Toro Rosso].

Both teams have been grand prix winners this season, making Honda the only engine supplier to have won with two different teams in the V6 turbo hybrid era that started in 2014 and that has been dominated by Mercedes.

The shifting focus within the automotive “industry has led to Honda s decision to redeploy

’ their resources and we understand and respect the reasoning behind this,” Horner said in a statement.

Their decision presents obvious challenges “for us as a team, but we have been here before and with our strength in depth we are well-prepared and equipped to respond effectively, as we have proven in the past.” Honda s departure will leave only Mercedes,

’ Ferrari and Renault as Formula One engine makers.

Horner said Red Bull, whose main driver is highly-rated Dutch 23-year-old Max Verstappen, would evaluate their options as a group. Red Bull won four constructors titles in a

’ row with Renault from 2010-13, but the relationship with the French manufacturer soured in the V6 era, with the team branding the engines as Tag Heuer for a period.

Both Red Bull-owned teams have used Ferrari units previously, but the Italian manufacturer s power unit has lost performance this

’ season.

Mercedes already supply Racing Point and Williams as well as their own factory team and are due to provide engines to McLaren, currently with Renault, next year. While we are disappointed not to continue “our partnershipwith Honda, we are enormously proud of our joint success, delivering five wins and 15 podiums for both Red Bullowned teams,” Horner said.

He said Red Bull remained committed to the sport in the long term, having recently signed a new commercial agreement for the next five years.

Picture: LAURENT CHARNIAUX - POOL/ GETTY IMAGES RESPECT: Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner talks in a press conference during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Russia at Sochi Autodrom on September 25, 2020 in Sochi, Russia.