Marko: They said I was a fool to sign with Honda

On Sunday in Melbourne, Honda returned to the podium after an 11-year absence, while Red Bull got a big tick next to their decision to partner with the Japanese auto giant. Apart from justifying their gamble once and for all, it was also a huge boost to team morale.

After the race, team consultant Helmut Marko trumpeted to La Gazzetta dello Sport, "This year we'll be back fighting for the world championship. They said that I was a fool to sign with Honda and instead, as often happens, I was right."

Insulted and discarded by McLaren, Honda almost departed the top flight last year until a flurry of behind-the-scenes deals Red Bull provided them with the Toro Rosso option for last year. Hence the junior team became a test bed for the senior team ahead of this season's a four-car assault.

From the outset, Red Bull made it clear to Honda that they should build the fastest and most potent PU possible, deliver it and Adrian Newey's crew would marry it to the chassis. The first result of the co-operation is the handy RB15 which Verstappen maximised on Sunday afternoon at Albert Park.

When Pierre Gasly finds his feet, he too should be in the mix or barking on the fringes, while his Dutch teammate is sure to drive the wheels off whatever they give him, as he did last weekend.

Between seasons, Red Bull have moved from being a Renault customer team to being a works-backed effort with Honda's full might focussed on two teams within one organisation.

Marko explained the difference, "Now we can design the ideal race car. For example, well ahead of time, we sit down with their engineers to study how to best work the cooling. Before we got the engine [from Renault] and we had to adapt the car."

Honda have the resources, matched by few on the grid, to throw at the project and it is clear they intend to do so until they are winning again.

There is no denying the Honda PU package has made a huge leap in performance between seasons, probably third in F1 PU pecking order surpassing, Renault and hot on the tail of the two ahead.

With everything dialed up for qualifying McLaren's Lando Norris was fastest of the Renault quartet.

"So far Honda have kept to their promises, and we will soon have new development upgrades making me confident that during the course of the season Honda can reach Mercedes and Ferrari," predicted Marko.