Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has revealed the likely race that the team will use as a guide to make their decision over engines for 2019.
The Milton Keynes-based outfit is considering whether to stick with Renault, with whom they have been partners for a decade or make the bold switch to Honda, who are now supplying junior team Toro Rosso after splitting with McLaren at the end of last year.
An initial deadline given by the French manufacturer for Red Bull to decide will pass later this week, however, the Anglo-Austrian team has other plans as they intend to hold off until a key race for engines next month.
“Hopefully around Montreal time there’s a next engine introduction,” Horner told RaceFans. “We’re hoping from a performance increase.
“Potentially both engine suppliers [Renault and Honda] are bringing an upgrade around Montreal so we wait and see with interest.”
Talks between Red Bull and Honda are already ongoing while meetings with Renault are scheduled at this weekend’s event in Monaco and managing director Cyril Abiteboul has made his company’s position clear.
“We cannot postpone it indefinitely, though we are not going to put a deadline because it’s not our style,” he told Spain’s El Mundo newspaper.
“But there is some urgency due to changes in the regulations. So if Red Bull wants our engines, they should let us know.”
As for Honda, motorsport boss Masashi Yamamoto has spoken about the pressure it would put on him and the Japanese manufacturer to supply both Red Bull teams from 2019.
“We are very positive,” he told Motorsport.com. “To deal with Red Bull is a really big thing for Honda because they are a top team and this gives us a sort of pressure as an engine manufacturer.
“We have to consider many aspects very well, can we really deal with Red Bull’s size?
“We have to feel the responsibility to supply the engine.”
Following the numerous problems over the three years at McLaren, Yamamoto is also sure Honda is better placed now to work with a top team.
“It was difficult with McLaren, but it was also a very good experience,” he said. “They gave us very precious experience as a partner.
“We are now having another experience with Toro Rosso, which is very good and if we are going to be with Red Bull, we don’t think we’ll be together like McLaren.
“I don’t think we’ll have the same situation as we had like McLaren.”