Marko guaranteed Honda the title after Verstappen contract extension

Red Bull Racing advisor Helmut Marko reveals in an interview with Formule1.nl Marko that Honda almost wanted to get out of Formula 1 after 2017. Instead, the Japanese engine manufacturer partnered with Red Bull. Marko then guaranteed that Red Bull would win the title with Honda.

Honda almost out of F1 after 2017

In 2015, Honda returned to Formula 1 with McLaren. The marriage proved unsuccessful, causing the team and the engine manufacturer to part ways. Honda would actually already like to quit Formula 1 at that time, but Marko managed to convince the Japanese to stay.

Marko told Formule1.nl that he had immediately called in his contacts when McLaren and Honda split up. According to Marko it was not an easy job to convince Honda to stay longer and to make a deal with Red Bull: "They already wanted to quit at that time."

Verstappen stays longer

The Honda deal was very important for Max Verstappen to stay longer. The Dutchman just couldn't get a championship winning car at Red Bull, which made Marko worry that Verstappen might want to go to another team. Marko let it be known that the deal with Honda offered perspective for Verstappen. After the deals with Honda and Verstappen were signed, Marko promised the world title to Honda.