Max Verstappen received assurances of Honda’s future plan in a meeting earlier in the summer, it has been revealed.
Efforts are underway to try and appease the Dutchman concerns over Red Bull’s potential in 2020, this after a run of poor performances since the summer break.
But even before that dip in form, Honda confirmed that a gathering of top figures from both team and engine supplier was called in Hungary to placate Verstappen.
“He had a meeting with Helmut Marko, Cristian Horner, Tanabe-san Toyoharu and myself talking about Honda’s development plan for the future,” Honda F1 chief Masashi Yamamoto told RaceFans.
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“It was actually requested from Christian because he wanted us to explain about Honda’s future plan. So we did it [for] Max and Max’s reply was [that] Honda is doing what was promised before so we trust you and he understood.
“Max wants to win all the races, 21 races,” he continued touting Verstappen’s desire for success. “He can discuss the chassis with Red Bull but the engine he has to discuss with Honda so that was the purpose.”
As with all the manufacturers on the F1 grid, Honda is also yet to commit to the sport beyond 2020 with the final regulations for 2021 still to be agreed.
Yamamoto though offered an optimistic tone, claiming: “MotoGP is the top of motorcycle category and F1 is of course [the same for] automotive, so as Honda we should continue those two categories.”