Red Bull expecting big Honda upgrade before Italian GP
F1 News
Helmut Marko has said that Red Bull are expecting a major engine upgrade from Japanese supplier Honda in time for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
Red Bull’s switch to Honda has been a positive one, but they are still lagging behind Mercedes and Ferrari, despite the stunning form of Max Verstappen.
Marko revealed that Red Bull did not expect Ferrari and Mercedes to be so far ahead this season, but they are determined to catch up.
"We have underestimated the step that Mercedes and Ferrari made over the winter," Marko said to 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."