'Verstappen can't fight for F1 title with Honda'
'Verstappen can't fight for F1 title with Honda'
Max Verstappen has little hope of muscling in on the 2020 title battle in Formula 1, according to Jacques Villeneuve, who says Honda remain incapable of producing a championship-contending engine.
Verstappen ended 2019 third in the drivers' championship, with two pole positions and three race wins to his name, albeit 135 points behind six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
The Dutchman ended the season having used more than the prescribed limit of all engine parts as Red Bull took Honda's supply for the first time. Sister team Toro Rosso used more engines than any other team on the grid as the Japanese manufacturer continues its push to match the output of Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault.
And Villeneuve believes a continued reliance on fresher engines, and the grid penalties they bring, would rule Verstappen out of contention again.
Villeneuve told motorsport-total.com: "Honda can only manage three or four races with its engine, and you're not on the same level [as Ferrari or Mercedes] because Honda cannot manage to race seven races with just one engine."
The Canadian believes Honda would have to sacrifice engine power to prolong usage, but says Red Bull can still work around his perceived shortcomings of the Japanese power unit, hailing Adrian Newey's "great" car design.
Villeneuve also credited Verstappen's performances in 2019, saying the Dutchman's mature performances came as something of a shock.
"He was on point for most of the season of the season," Villeneuve added. "He drove focused and fast. He was a surprise, really impressive."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
F1 team 'set to announce MEGA signing' in major Red Bull challenge
- 8 minutes ago
Horner in BRUTAL Wolff swipe amid Verstappen to Mercedes links
- 1 hour ago
Hamilton car camera captures Verstappen's TRUE feelings toward F1 rival
- 2 hours ago
F1 star hits back at Sky pundit with 'boring old man' jibe
- 3 hours ago
F1 champion DOUBTS passion of new fans
- Today 15:58
F1 News Today: Horner and Red Bull saga to reignite as F1 legend OFFENDED by official statement
- Today 15:05
Related news
Hamilton car camera captures Verstappen's TRUE feelings toward F1 rival
Horner Red Bull saga set to reignite with FIA 'evidence' hearing
Verstappen reveals difference in Red Bull mood since start of season
Marko reveals reasons for RB driver's struggles
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860