Aston Martin Red Bull Racing has announced that it has reached an agreement with Honda Motor Co Ltd to race with the Japanese manufacturer's power units for the 2019 and 2020 Formula 1 seasons.

"This multi-year agreement with Honda signals the start of an exciting new phase in Red Bull's efforts to compete not just for grand prix wins but for what is always our goal... championship titles," said Christian Horner of a move first predicted by Pitpass last August.

"We have always taken decisions such as this dispassionately and with only one criteria in mind – do we believe the outcome will allow us to compete at a higher level. After careful consideration and evaluation we are certain this partnership with Honda is the right direction for the Team." He added: "We have been impressed by Honda's commitment to F1, by the rapid steps they have made in recent times with our sister team Scuderia Toro Rosso, and by the scope of their ambition, which matches our own. We look forward to working with Honda in the coming years and to racing together in pursuit of F1's biggest prizes."

"Having established a good relationship with Toro Rosso, we have decided to extend our Formula 1 involvement to the other team in the Red Bull family, Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, as from the 2019 season," added Takahiro Hachigo, President & Representative Director of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. "Having two teams means we can access twice as much data as previously. We believe that working with both Toro Rosso and Red Bull Racing will allow us to get closer to our goal of winning races and championships, building two strong partnerships. Discussions proceeded very quickly, thanks to Red Bull's open and respectful attitude towards Honda, leading to a deal that is fair and equitable for all parties."

The partnership with Honda deepens Red Bull's collaboration with the Japanese manufacturer, which in 2018 entered into a partnership with Toro Rosso. Red Bull and Honda have already enjoyed success together in motorsport on both four and two wheels.

"Honda's alignment with both Red Bull Formula 1 teams provides enormous potential," said Horner. "Honda will have access to a wealth of data from both outfits, with Red Bull leading the way, and the opportunities for faster, more effective and more competitive development are doubled."

With this announcement, the 2018 season brings to an end the team's 12-year relationship with current power unit supplier Renault. The team first used Renault power in 2007 and during F1's V8 engine era the partnership yielded 47 grand prix victories and eight world championship titles (four Drivers' and four Constructors') between 2010 and 2013, and a further ten grand prix victories since then.

Commenting on the team's time with Renault, Horner added: "We would like to thank Renault for the past 12 years, a period during which we experienced some incredible moments together. We have sometimes had our differences but Renault has always worked tirelessly and to the best of its ability to provide us with a competitive power unit. That is still the case today and we would like to thank the Renault team, and particularly the guys in our garage at every race, for their unstinting commitment and we look forward to ending our partnership on a high come the end of this season.

"Our focus for the rest of this year is still very much on delivering the best results possible in the 2018 Championship and we wish Renault Sport all the best for the future."

The team will continue to race under the name of Aston Martin Red Bull Racing.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by BillH, 19/06/2018 18:30

"Good move by Red Bull as the synergies with MotoGP and other categories that Honda is in will help with marketing which is what Red Bull is all about.
It will be interesting to know how deep the "partnership" goes.
Is it just engine supply where Red Bull buy the PUs or is it a full on factory backing as McLaren had?
Regarding McLaren, there will be one less team supplying Renault with data to improve.
For Honda, they have increased their leverage politically in the sport.
Driver wise, Carlos Sainz may end up in a Red Bull seat if Ricciardo decides to move, assuming he is not happy with the move of Red Bull to Honda.
That being said, in Australia I suspect there is a truckload more Honda sold than Renault (certainly the case here in NZ) and that could mean more marketing opportunities for the Aussie driver and more of a retainer.
Interestingly, I've not seen a Hartley/Honda campaign here in NZ whereas Hyundia have done a pretty good job with Hayden Paddon.
In short, I can't see any negatives for Red Bull as the Honda PUs appear to be on the improve."

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2. Posted by ZJAY, 19/06/2018 17:14

"Ricciardo to Renault 2019, and Renault to be third best team in 2019."

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3. Posted by ESTM PRFT, 19/06/2018 17:11

"I hate to think of how this may influence the Honey Badgers decision for next year, given that he may have better options."

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4. Posted by alvarezh3, 19/06/2018 14:18

"Although it seems that the Honda engine is almost at a par with the Renault at this moment in time and that reliability has also improved substantially, I tend to think that there is more to the Honda deal than just an engine supply, something like a few extra $$$ to help with expenses. Remember, the deal with McLaren included a hefty sum that if true, said to be close to $100 millions, not bad!"

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5. Posted by imejl99, 19/06/2018 9:34

"Once upon a time, decade or two ago, I read somewhere that worst car form last race in a season is probably better than winning car from the first race that season, such is dynamic of F1 car and team development. I believe McLaren Honda partnership has no relevance for anything or anyone going forward. If it is only up to PU, Haas and Sauber would fight Force India and Williams for wins, right?

Best thing from this deal is that there will be 4 engine manufactures for few more years."

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6. Posted by mzso, 19/06/2018 9:21

"@Ro
What changed? The team. It seems like McLaren is in such a piss poor state that they're a negative force on engine development."

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7. Posted by Brianz, 19/06/2018 9:11

"I think this is a good choice - I know they were limited on options though.
The McLaren with a Renault engine is just as bad as it was with the Honda power unit. The issues were not power unit but chassis related.
Toro Rosso have clearly demonstrated the Honda power unit can produce the performance Honda demonstrated on the dyno and with the additional input from Red Bull things can only improve.
It's just a shame that the 'show' in 2018 may mean that less people will witness the improvements next year..."

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8. Posted by Motorsport-fan, 19/06/2018 8:57

"I do not think Red Bull had much of a choice having burnt there bridges with Renault, Red Bull Honda beating a Mclaren Renault? Ricciardos next move will be interesting, Ferrari or Mercedes? "

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9. Posted by Ro, 19/06/2018 8:21

"You have to hand it to Red Bull! What a gamble, but I ask myself , if Honda just couldn't do it with McLaren, whats changed? Does that mean they lose Ricciardo?"

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Official: Red Bull to use Honda engines in 2019 and 2020

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