Red Bull Make Honda Switch
Red Bull announce partnership with Honda from 2019
Red Bull have today announced that they will end their 12 year partnership with Renault, teaming up with new engine supplier Honda.
After several troubled years between Red Bull and Renault, the Milton Keynes based Austrian team have decided to split from engine supplier Renault from 2019 onward. Very poor reliability in 2017 for both Red Bull and junior team Toro Rosso seemingly pushed the four time world champion constructors over the edge, with Honda quickly being announced as Toro Rosso's supplier for 2018.
The relationship seems to have been strained since the re-introduction of a Renault factory team, with Christian Horner and Helmut Marko both talking about their unhappiness with the package Renault supplied new Red Bull were a customer team.
A fourth place finish and discontent in Renault engine back in 2015 sparked Red Bull's decision to remove Renault's name from their car, name and all Red Bull kit, instead having sponsor Tag Heuer take their spot. Things started more positively in 2018, with Red Bull massively outperforming both Renault and their new customer team McLaren (formerly supplied by Honda).
However, the damage was done, and positive development and performances from Honda's power unit in the back of the Toro Rosso have made Red Bull's mind up.
Personally, I think, while it's a huge gamble it is one worth taking. The move will make the partnership effectively a factory team, with Honda's only other commitment to Red Bull's junior team, in which Red Bull are main decision makers.
This will give Red Bull the chance to develop an engine closely with Honda, working with data they've collected and make changes that suit their needs, as opposed to having to take whatever Renault gave them.
It will be interesting to see what knock on effect the decision will have now. With Daniel Ricciardo's contract still not signed and talk in recent days about Adrian Newey looking to make this season his last at Red Bull, will they be excited by the new partnership and stay or be concerned by Honda's less than perfect reputation in F1 after a troubled spell with McLaren and look to leave before it can go wrong.