Red Bull now has ‘missing ingredient’ for F1 title fight – Christian Horner

Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner believes the company’s alignment with Honda provides the “missing ingredient” that it needs in order to re-emerge as a title contender in Formula 1.

Red Bull won four straight double titles during the final years of the V8 era from 2010-13 but has not fought for the title since, largely pinning its deficit on Renault’s power units.

It has finished third in the Constructors' Championship for the last two seasons, adrift of title opponents Mercedes and Ferrari, and last year claimed four Grand Prix wins.

For 2019 Red Bull has severed ties with Renault and instead linked up with Honda, which displayed encouraging gains during the 2018 season as Toro Rosso’s supplier.

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“I think the most important thing is to work as on team,” said Horner during a press conference in Japan on Saturday as part of a Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Honda exhibition.

“We’ve achieved more than 50 Grand Prix victories and eight World Championships working as one team.

“The ingredient we’ve had missing the last five years has been the power unit.

“We believe in this new relationship with Honda that that missing ingredient is now available to us.

“I think working collectively as a team, as things have started, then the opportunities are massive for the future.”

Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko, also present at the press conference alongside Honda chief Masashi Yamamoto and Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost, emphasised his belief that the team can win at least five races in 2019.

Horner joked: “Well it’s quite interesting as I drive past McDonald’s every day to work where they met [Marko and Yamamoto] – in England there’s a happy meal, I think they had a happy meal that day and if we win five races I think they’ll change the name of the happy meal to the Red Bull-Honda meal!

“It’s been a fantastic start to the relationship, we thoroughly enjoyed working with our colleagues at Honda, the product is great, the ambition is there – and commitment. And we’re really excited.”