Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko claims the new partnership with Honda has changed the company’s view on hybrid engines in Formula 1.
The introduction of the current power units in 2014 ended the team’s dominance in F1, having won four straight double championships between 2010-2013, and struggled to close the performance gap to Mercedes and Ferrari with Renault.
However, with a new supplier that is much more invested in the current engine formula, Red Bull too, are happy to continue on the current hybrid path.
“We always opposed the hybrid engines, but Honda wants to continue to work with this engine,” Marko told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.
“We changed our mind because Honda is our supplier now. For the first time in 14 years, we are treated as a factory team, which of course creates a completely different situation.”
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That being said, the Austrian has suggested the current relationship having a long shelf life is dependent on what F1 looks like in 2021.
“At the moment, no decision has been made, we have no regulations, no agreement with the commercial rights holder, nothing,” the Red Bull man commented.
“We are taking the same approach as Honda, we are hoping that, finally, there will be clarity, and if Honda decides to stay after 2020, we will provide them with everything they need to participate.”