Max about 2019: 'A Honda engine is running on the test bench'

Published on 17 November 2018 by Raymond Snip

In an interview with Rick Winkelman in Formula 1 Café, Friday night at Ziggo Sport, Max Verstappen was put through the wringer about 2019.

Looking ahead to next year you will, of course, get a new Red Bull Racing car, with a Honda power unit in the back. Have you driven the new car in the simulator yet? "No, not yet. However, we did test the new suspension and such a few times in the simulator."

Is there a car in Milton Keynes yet with a Honda engine in it? "No, but we do have all simulations. A Honda engine is running on the test bench. At Red Bull Racing we have a test bench that we can link to the simulator, so you can run the engine and analyse all data."

Rumours are that the Honda engine will bring more power. In what way does the car need to be modified for this? "The most impacted will be the gearbox, with regard to the forces that are being released. The cooling also has to be modified. We have made the decision early on to continue with Honda and we have plenty of people and know-how to be able to make all these modifications."

Dr. Helmut Marko expects to be able to go for the Grand Prize next year.... "We hope so, of course, but we have to wait and see what the start of the season will look like. I believe we will make another step forward, just with the engine alone."