Newey about choise for Honda engines: 'We can work together more closely'

Published on 26 June 2018 by Bryan van Berlo

A week ago, Aston Martin Red Bull Racing announced that in 2019, it will be making the switch to Honda-engines. This ends what has been a long partnership with Renault. Adrian Newey, chief technical officer of Red Bull Racing, explains the move to Honda power units and what this will mean for his team.

“Renault did a superb job in the V8 era", says Newey. "They were very open to developing things such as the blown exhaust, which helped us tremendously. So, we had a very good partnership with them.”

“More recently in the hybrid era, we have become their customer, with them very much focusing on their own team. So, the opportunity to work closely with a manufacturer rather than take what we’re given, is of course very appealing.”

“Honda have a tremendous record in Formula 1, very innovative engineers and for us a real positive. It's something we’re very much looking forward to.”

“I think also for our partners Mobil 1, it will be a very good move. Mobil 1 with Renault have done a great job, as they’ve been somewhat restricted in their access to dinos and to develop an oil which is suitable for an engine that has actually been developed for different manufacturers of fuel and oil.”

“By getting to Honda, I think it will allow Mobil 1 much more freedom to work with the manufacturer where they can actually influence the design of the engine, not simply develop a product that is suited to an already existing specification.”