Red Bull-Honda not guaranteed for after 2020

The current Red Bull-Honda partnership could end before the start of the 2021 Formula 1 season, according to Helmut Marko.

Red Bull recently ditched Renault in favour of becoming a customer of the Japanese manufacturer, with the partnership having blossomed nicely in 2019.

However, it may just last for one more season if Honda are not satisfied with the upcoming regulation changes which will significantly impact engine development for power unit builders.

“They [Honda] are waiting until the new regulations are on the table,” Marko told Auto Motor und Sport.

“Then they will analyse everything and decide.”

He does think Honda will need to get used to the projected budget cap, however, saying: “If it does not get cheaper, there will be hardly anyone left,”

F1 bosses make decision on 2020 Grand Prix formatRead more

Marko insists both parties still need to focus on the present, too, as there are improvements needed if Red Bull are going to bridge the performance gap to Mercedes, and Ferrari especially.

“In qualifying, we are still clearly behind, especially Ferrari,” the Austrian explained.

“We lost eight tenths to them on the straights. But in the race we are about equal to Mercedes."

There is set to be a meeting this week between F1 management, race organisers, and team bosses to further discuss the proposed regulation changes.

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