Official: Red Bull announces Honda F1 switch from 2019

Red Bull has announced it will join forces with Honda for its Formula 1 power unit supply from the 2019 season onwards, drawing the curtain on an 11-year partnership with Renault.

Red Bull has been linked Honda after the Japanese manufacturer began supplying engines to its B-team, Toro Rosso, from the start of the 2018 season, acting as a precursor to a deal for the senior squad.

The Red Bull-Honda deal was made official on Tuesday morning in an announcement by the team, boosting Honda’s engine supply to two teams from 2019.

“This multi-year agreement with Honda signals the start of an exciting new phase in Aston Martin Red Bull Racing’s efforts to compete not just for grand prix wins but for what is always our goal – championship titles," Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said.

“We have always taken decisions such as this dispassionately and with only one criteria in mind – do we believe the outcome will allow us to compete at a higher level. After careful consideration and evaluation we are certain this partnership with Honda is the right direction for the Team.”

“We have been impressed by Honda’s commitment to F1, by the rapid steps they have made in recent times with our sister team Scuderia Toro Rosso, and by the scope of their ambition, which matches our own. We look forward to working with Honda in the coming years and to racing together in pursuit of F1’s biggest prizes.”

The agreement marks the end of Red Bull’s partnership with Renault that started in 2007, yielding 52 race wins, four drivers’ championship and four constructors’ championships, with all of the titles being won between 2010 and 2013.

Despite their success together, Renault’s struggles under the V6 hybrid power unit regulations from 2014 caused relations to sour, with Red Bull threatening to cut ties on a number of occasions.

Red Bull’s power units have been rebranded as ‘TAG Heuer’ for the past three seasons, while Renault itself has turned attention to its own works team, which returned to F1 in 2016.

Honda made its own return to the sport in 2015, becoming McLaren’s engine supplier, but split with the British team at the end of last season due to a lack of on-track performance.

However, big strides have been made forward through the 2018 season, with the Toro Rosso team firmly establishing itself in F1’s midfield and enjoying decent reliability from its power unit, aiding Red Bull’s decision to make the switch to Honda.

Honda’s engine update in Canada earlier this month was deemed to be the last test to see what kind of in-season development could be offered, with Toro Rosso drivers Pierre Gasly and Brendon Hartley both noticing a decent boost in performance from their engines.

The deal means Honda will expand to supplying more than just one team in F1 for the first time since 2008, when it worked with both its own works outfit and the Super Aguri squad, with the latter folding four races into the campaign.

Takahiro Hachigo, President & Representative Director of Honda, feels doubling its F1 efforts will help it close the gap faster on its manufacturer rivals and is thrilled to secure the deal.

“Having two teams means we can access twice as much data as previously," Hachigo said. "We believe that working with both Toro Rosso and Red Bull Racing will allow us to get closer to our goal of winning races and championships, building two strong partnerships. Discussions proceeded very quickly, thanks to Red Bull’s open and respectful attitude towards Honda, leading to a deal that is fair and equitable for all parties.”

Red Bull Racing will continue to race under the name of Aston Martin Red Bull Racing.

Renault is now only set to supply engines to two teams from 2019 - its own factory team, and McLaren - down from three last year.

F1 2019 - Confirmed Engine Supply Deals

Mercedes: Mercedes, Williams, Force India

Ferrari: Ferrari, Haas, Sauber

Renault: Renault, McLaren

Honda: Red Bull, Toro Rosso