Honda engine is best part of Red Bull car - Marko

Honda is promising more power, and Red Bull is determined to improve its chassis after the new works pairing impressed at the 2019 season opener in Melbourne. Max Verstappen, finishing behind the two Mercedes, ensured that pre-season favourite Ferrari couldn't even get on the podium in Australia.

And Red Bull chief Dr Helmut Marko says there is more to come.

GPFans F1 Podcast #2 - Australian GP recap, your questions and Guess The Grid!Read more

For that, he admitted that Red Bull has work to do.

"The best part of the package is the Honda engine," he said. "For our part we need to improve the chassis.

"We have too little downforce, but that's born of the philosophy of the last five years where we had to constantly compensate for the lack of performance."

He is talking about Red Bull's former supplier Renault, who according to Marko always produced too little engine power.

"That's why we didn't have any big wings in Melbourne," said Marko. "They don't exist in our imagination.

"We will try to solve this as quickly as we can put it through CFD development and production."

As for the engine, Marko said Honda is promising to close the 10-20 horse power gap to Mercedes.

"The board, which was in Melbourne, promised us that more power is coming soon," he confirmed.

"If the power increase is significant, we will not wait until the eighth race. We would in that case take a penalty for the start of the race.

"It's then up to us to develop the chassis to catch up with the people ahead of us."

Verstappen, third in Melbourne, also has nothing but good things to say after Red Bull dropped Renault to switch to Honda.

"It's just a completely different engine, but I don't like comparing with what we had before," he told Ziggo Sport. "I don't want to upset anyone."

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

George Russell reveals Mercedes issue that nearly saw Max Verstappen steal Azerbaijan GP victory

• Yesterday 22:30

F1 star reveals massive damage after Azerbaijan Grand Prix moment - 'I was driving like my grandmother'

• Yesterday 21:45

What Marko really thought about Max Verstappen, Christian Horner's stunning revelations

• Yesterday 20:55

Franco Colapinto's fans' abuse and threats could cost him his F1 future

• Yesterday 19:45

Lewis Hamilton 'sulking' as Italian media claim 'something broken' at Ferrari

• Yesterday 18:45

F1 star slapped with penalty despite FIA admitting 'significant' safety car error

• Yesterday 17:57