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Red Bull Racing 'Would Work Great' with Honda Says Key

16:19, 10 Mar 2018

byNicolás Quarles van Ufford

Toro Rosso technical officer James Key has Honda as an exclusive engine partner this year, to his excitement. He now thinks that it would be a great idea for Red Bull too to make the step away from Renault-power units and make the switch to Honda as well.

Key is quick to admit that the switch from Renault to Honda was far from easy, but was worth it, after McLaren were desperate to cut ties with the Japanese with their relationship souring quickly.

"The aggregates are completely different," Key explains, "it's a very compact unit, but in a completely different architecture then the Renault V6. We couldn't fit it in the same place at first, we really had to adapt the car quite a bit."

"We didn't have to start from scratch though. The car had been in development quite a while, and things like aerodynamics weren't changed. We refined the 2017 car."

Key knows that he has no say in what engine Red Bull Racing will be using, but he secretely hopes that they too will cross over to the oriental engine rather than Renault.

"For my part, it would be fabulous as a technician, even if Red Bull Racing would drive with Honda. Then we could share the experience. That would be a fabulous opportunity to work more closely together in many areas. It would not only benefit us, it would be good for Red Bull Racing as well."

The technician then proceeds to look ahead to the coming season, and how Honda will shape up as an engine compared to Renault.

"I do not know what work Renault did for the 2018 season. I can only say where Renault stood at the end of the 2017 season. Well, with testing values you should always be careful, but I can say that the difference between Renault and Honda is not that big. Certainly not as big as some people have said."

"Honda has clearly made some progress, which is very encouraging for us. If Honda continues as well as it has in the past few months, then I'll be on par with Renault at the middle of the season."