Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko and Max Verstappen have called on Honda to push harder in the pursuit of performance.
The relationship between the team and their new engine supplier has been largely positive since it began, with Max Verstappen scoring two podiums and not having any of the reliability issues they suffered from with Renault
However, the past two races have highlighted a power gap which still remains between Honda and the rest and now the Anglo-Austrian team wants to see that addressed.
“The engine is incredibly reliable, we haven’t had a failure,” Marko said in comments quoted by GPFans.com.
“Everything Honda has promised to us has been fulfilled, but our previous updates did not bring as much benefit as those at Mercedes and Ferrari.
“In the future, we would like to see a little more risk and hope for a power increase.
“We would rather start from the back with a stronger engine because if Max starts at the back, a thrilling Grand Prix is guaranteed.
“Together with our Japanese partners, we are now trying to take more risk, but that is difficult because they [at Honda] have a slightly different thinking culture.”
Also Read:
- Verstappen wants Red Bull & Honda gains after lonely French GP
- Red Bull claim Honda could match Mercedes power by Monza
As for Verstappen, he also noted how one of the main complaints he had during the Renault era, appears to have been addressed by the French manufacturer.
“You could see on Lap 1 I think we are missing some top speed to the top guys,” the Dutchman said. “The McLarens behind are very quick on the straight.
“You could see the Renault engine over one lap, they have a quite powerful ‘quali mode’ or whatever they use on Lap 1.
“Afterwards they have to back it out, of course, and then you can see they are not a threat any more, but over one lap we can definitely improve a bit more.”
