Breaking news
Formula 1
Red Bull given fuel boost for 2019 Honda debut
Red Bull has been given a boost in its hopes of progress with Honda in 2019, with fuel supplier ExxonMobil saying it is in a better position than it has been for years.
Jonathan Noble
Edited: Nov 6, 2018, 9:12 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
F1 2019
The 2019 FIA Formula 1 World Championship starts in Melbourne on March 17 – and here you will find F1 news, photos and videos covering many topics such as: technological advancements, 2019 F1 rules, team and driver articles, in-depth analysis and expert opinion, and much more. You can also check out the 2019 F1 calendar, buy F1 event tickets and merchandise.
Honda’s promising development path this season has lifted Red Bull’s optimism that it can target strong results from the off.
And ahead of a crunch winter where Honda needs to finalise its 2019 specification, fuel partner ExxonMobil has revealed that it is much further ahead with its planning than it was at this stage last year.
With the current turbo hybrid formula putting the onus on fuel supplier and manufacturers working together, such a step could play a part in helping push the Japanese manufacturer on further.
ExxonMobil’s global motorsports technology manager David Tsurusaki told Motorsport.com: “When we had this announcement with Honda and Toro Rosso last year, it meant only getting ready for Barcelona testing in December – which was a short timeline.
“But now, after a year of continuous change, adjustments and testing, we have already been working on 2019 – which is really where you want to be.
“You don't want to be doing all your upgrades and preparations during the year, and then at the end of it start working on 2019. You want to be working on 2019 pretty early.
“So the fact we've had the chance to work with the Honda guys again, get comfortable with them, get things rolling, get the testing going and then start working on the single cylinder already with the full V6 durability tests now, it is exactly where we want to be.
“We are pretty excited. We are in a good position and we think they have the right fuel and the right lubricants ready for 2019.”
The other factor that will help progress is the fact that ExxonMobil will enjoy a proper works relationship with Honda next year, whereas other recent partnerships with Renault and Mercedes were on the customer basis where it had to battle for dyno testing time.
This sole relationship should help speed up the rate at which fuel upgrades can be delivered.
Asked how much that will help, Tsurusaki said: “I wouldn't say it's a major advantage, but it is a big step where we are not competing for time and testing time with someone else.
“In the case of previous engine manufacturers, we weren't necessarily the priority to test. So in this case we are not only the priority, we are the only ones. It is the best scenario.
“There were some comments earlier in the season about what is the best way to have fuel and oil suppliers for manufacturers, and it is true that if you are dedicated – which means one fuel and oil supplier – then you are minimising the duplicated testing time.
“I think we are already seeing the rewards of the fast quick response we can have. It means if we get the data we can adjust from there. And when you are doing that in weeks versus months it makes a big difference.”
Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing RB14
Photo by: Andy Hone / LAT Images
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Smedley to leave Williams F1 team after 2018
Next article Hamilton wants FIA talks over young drivers' education
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1 Dec 31, 2024
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1 Dec 31, 2024
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Dec 28, 2024
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
More from
Red Bull Racing
Tsolov named Red Bull, Racing Bulls reserve driver after missing out on 2027 F1 race seat
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
22 h
Tsolov named Red Bull, Racing Bulls reserve driver after missing out on 2027 F1 race seat
Max Verstappen on Ferrari clashes: "I would never sign two number-one drivers"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 d
Max Verstappen on Ferrari clashes: "I would never sign two number-one drivers"
Latest news
Sebastien Bourdais hopes latest WEC success will remind teams of his value
WEC
WEC WEC
Monza
28 min
Sebastien Bourdais hopes latest WEC success will remind teams of his value
"It's horribly painful" - Williams drops 2026 car upgrades to benefit 2027
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 h
"It's horribly painful" - Williams drops 2026 car upgrades to benefit 2027
Iker Lecuona felt significant differences between Ducati's GP25 and GP26
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
2 h
Iker Lecuona felt significant differences between Ducati's GP25 and GP26
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe