Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko claims Honda will match Mercedes power with an upgrade currently planned for Monza.
Currently, the German manufacturer is thought to be second in the engine stakes behind Ferrari but still hold a solid advantage over their Japanese rival.
This weekend in Canada will also see the first update to the Mercedes unit this season, but while initially admitting their targets were a little short, Marko is confident the deficit can be made up.
“We have underestimated the step that Mercedes and Ferrari made over the winter,” he told Motorsport-Magazin.
“We had sorted out our problems [in Monaco], but when Mercedes turned up the party mode in Q3, we immediately lost three tenths in the first sector again.
“That [step] comes with engine number four in Monza. Unless the jump is so significant, then we could accept the penalty earlier.
“According to the figures we have from Honda, it’ll be a real boost,” he concluded.
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The Red Bull chief also seemed to suggest another update is due before the Italian Grand Prix, having only introduced the ‘Spec 2’ in Baku.
Regardless, it is a bold claim to say the least and would certainly mark a key moment for Honda in the development if that was to be the case.
