Nothing changes for Verstappen: 'Honda never really went away'

6 October 2022 at 07:28

Last update 6 October 2022 at 08:32

GPblog.com

Max Verstappen is happy with the return of Honda, but the Dutchman states he never felt the Japanese were really gone. Pierre Gasly also confirms that view.

Honda and Red Bull announced on Wednesday that the collaboration will intensify again. Honda withdrew from Formula 1 at the end of 2021 but remained involved with the team with its engine. In fact, the current Red Bull Powertrain is still the old Honda engine and the Japanese engineers will continue to assist it as well.

Honda back in F1

As of the Japanese Grand Prix, the partnership has expanded again and we will see the Honda sticker on the RB18 of Verstappen and Sergio Perez, as well as the AT03 of Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda, in addition to HRC (the Honda racing division).

''It’s great to have the full name back on the car. HRC was already on the car, so… Honda never really left. In terms of the working relationship compared to last year, not a lot has changed anyway,'' Verstappen said to The Race.

Gasly also personally never felt Honda was gone. ''Because I’ve still been working with the same engineers, I’ve still been in contact with my Honda guys. I know that the job has been kind of split between Red Bull and Honda, but when we talk about the engine we always refer to it as the Honda power unit,'' Gasly concludes.