Horner: "Right time" to make Honda-switch

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has said that 2019 is the right time for the team to be moving on from Renault as an engine partner, as the Austrian outfit has opted to make the switch to Honda.

Red Bull has been partnered with Renault for the past twelve years, and the two have had a lot of success together. The Bulls won four titles in a row between 2010 and 2013, winning both the drivers' championship as well as the constructors' championship.

However, in recent years, it hasn't been the same story. Since the hybrid era was introduced in 2014, Mercedes has dominated the F1. The Germans have won the last four titles, with Lewis Hamilton getting two and Nico Rosberg getting one in 2016.

Red Bull have now opted to switch to Honda, which is a risky move no doubt. Both Honda and Red Bull are aware of the demand for instant success, but Horner thinks that that's a positive.

"We had the option to change or the option to stay where we were," the Brit explained at the executives' press conference, "and having looked at the progress that Honda have been making over recent months, having had the benefit of looking at the progress of Toro Rosso and how Toro Rosso have worked with Honda.

So, aren't Red Bull sad to have a divorce with their current partners, Renault?

"We’ve had twelve years with our current partner and we’ve enjoyed an awful lot of success," Horner explained.