Red Bull on alert with Honda bringing massive upgrade to Suzuka
Red Bull on alert with Honda bringing massive upgrade to Suzuka
Honda will bring a hugely upgraded power unit to the Japanese Grand Prix which could elevate Toro Rosso into contention for 'best of the rest' honours. According to Sky Sports, Honda's upgrade will be worth a monumental half a second per lap, news which will also prick the ears of Red Bull.
Pierre Gasly and Brendon Hartley trialled the new parts in Friday practice in Russia, before reverting to their previous-spec engines over the weekend.
Any power boost would have been wasted in Sochi as both Toro Rosso drivers retired inside six laps due to brake failure.
However, with a trip to Honda heartland Suzuka coming this week, Red Bull's junior team could be a real factor in the midfield battle.
Although Hartley and Gasly only took part in Q1 in Sochi, the Frenchman would have been seventh-fastest in the session if half a second was shaved from his time.
"There is a bright shining light on the horizon in the back of this Toro Rosso, which is the Honda engine," Skyreporter Ted Kravitz said in his Sochi 'Notebook'.
"[Toro Rosso] did Friday with the new Honda engine, then they had to take it out because they need some more calibration on it and they want to keep it fresh for Suzuka of course – Honda's home race.
"Apparently it's brilliant. Apparently this new Honda engine is the 'jewel' that Ron Dennis talked about years a go.
"This new Honda engine is worth half a second per lap more than the engine they’ve got in at the moment.
"Looks good for Red Bull Racing next year if they can get it reliable, that's the big question mark."
MORE: Honda to trial 2019 Red Bull components in Russia
MORE: 'I thought it was going through my visor and straight into my eye'
Change your timezone:
Latest News
F1 sprint races: How do they work and what are the changes for 2024?
- 23 minutes ago
- 6
EXCLUSIVE: 'Sports should be above' politics claims F1 icon
- 56 minutes ago
Sky Pundit suggests F1 star ‘DETRIMENTAL’ to nation
- 1 hour ago
F1 Flags Explained: What do the different colours mean?
- 2 hours ago
McLaren boss explains why FIA REVERSED Norris F1 penalty
- 3 hours ago
FIA CANCEL important drivers' meeting after huge drama in China
- Today 12:53
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