Carlos Sainz admitted in Austin that the progress made by other engine manufacturers, including Honda, in recent races, had to scare the French team.
Renault still dominated the Japanese engine not long ago, but the evolution of the Honda is now clearly more efficient according to the Spaniard. It will be necessary that the Renault V6 of 2019, promised as almost entirely new, marks a very remarkable progress.
Previously, with Ferrari and Mercedes speeding ahead at the front, Renault at least had the edge over F1’s fourth-best engine supplier, Honda.
“At Suzuka, I left the Honda cars behind in the race but in qualifying they have taken a step forward. We could not develop in the same way and it’s scary for Renault,” Sainz said.
“We will have a whole new engine next year. Renault is capable of building an engine that is on the level of Ferrari and Mercedes.” Sainz added.
McLaren ended its three-year relationship with Honda after the team complained the Japanese manufacture’s power units consistently last season.
Honda’s return to with McLaren had been disastrous since it came back to the grid in 2015, with a lack of performance and constant reliability problems holding the once-successful partnership back during its second iteration.
“In the meantime, it is clear that we have made the least progress in this area in recent months. We thought we were on the right track after Canada, with Spec B, when we were in front of the middle of the pack clearly.” Sainz said.
“That was enough up to Hockenheim, but Mercedes and Ferrari made big changes after the summer break, and Honda before Japan. It would take a new engine because finding such aero gains to make up for that, it’s not possible in 4 races.” Sainz added.
Red Bull agreed to use Honda engine. (Source:www.aol.co.uk)
Honda now has two teams to work with as it pushes its rivals for supremacy. They signed a two-year partnership with Red Bull, starting this year.
“The Honda company’s philosophy is that racing is in our DNA. It is always pushing, setting targets, striving to achieve those targets. To keep challenging is basically our culture, and to become the top manufacturer, with the best power unit, is what is driving us on.” Honda’s F1 technical director, Toyoharu Tanabe, said.
