One of the biggest questions ahead of the 2019 Formula 1 season is whether Red Bull have made the correct call to ditch Renault and bank their future on Honda, an answer that will only be revealed in qualifying and on race day at next year's Australian Grand Prix opener in Melbourne.
But until then we are assured of an intriguing war of words between words between Red Bull consultant Helmut Marko and Renault F1 chief Cyril Abiteboul, the latter rubbishing claims that the Honda PU package is already better than the Renault offering.
Marko fired the next salvo, in the latest squabble, when he repeated in an interview with Motorsport Magazin, "After our simulation, we look much better with the current Honda engine."
He added, "Mr Abiteboul can continue his daydreaming, next year we will see clearly what is on the table. For us, it became clear at some point that Renault cannot deliver us a winning engine. With their budget, they cannot compete with Ferrari and Mercedes."
"Clearly we had to do something. Now, for the first time in our 15-year history, we have a factory engine. This is the correct way for Red Bull and Toro Rosso to develop."
As for Abiteboul's maths claiming that Honda actually lag 20 kilowatts [about 27 BHP] behind Renault, Marko said, "No need to discuss this, next year, we'll see where we stand."
Marko explained, "This past season the Honda engine improved in gradual stages. Many of the grid penalties were factored in because we always wanted to develop and test new things."
The first Honda-powered Red Bull is in the final months of production, Marko gave an update on the status of next year's RB15, "Milton Keynes already has all the technical data, engine dimensions, weight, transmission, all that. Honda engines are already running our gearboxes. We think we are very well positioned."
https://www.grandprix247.com/2018/12/21/abiteboul-red-bull-hide-facts-honda-is-still-behind-us/
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