Breaking news
Formula 1
Kvyat podium a "reward" for Toro Rosso helping Honda
Honda thinks Daniil Kvyat’s shock podium in the German Grand Prix rewarded the Toro Rosso team’s willingness last year to help the engine manufacturer prepare for its Red Bull switch.
Scott Mitchell
Edited: Aug 17, 2019, 5:14 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Toro Rosso adopted Honda engines last year after the Japanese company split with McLaren, as Red Bull used its junior team to evaluate a potential Honda partnership for itself.
Honda’s progress with Toro Rosso convinced Red Bull to strike a deal for 2019, and after that was done Toro Rosso was willing to take the hit of more grid drops to encourage Honda to push on with development.
Red Bull has won two races with Honda power this season, with Max Verstappen’s victory in Germany complemented by Kvyat finishing third in a chaotic race.
“Kvyat in third was a very big thing for us because we were improving together last year, with some struggles as well,” Honda’s F1 managing director Masashi Yamamoto told Motorsport.com. "We made a big effort to improve together with Toro Rosso as a team.
"That was only the second time for Toro Rosso as well, since [Sebastian] Vettel’s win [in the 2008 Italian GP]. It was a very big moment for the team as well and we were very glad we could achieve it together.
“I was talking to [team principal] Franz Tost last year, looking at this year as we knew we were going to be with Red Bull from the middle of the season.
“We were discussing we can try various things with Toro Rosso towards this year. So we thank them for their contribution and we’re glad we could be on the podium with them.”
Read Also:
- Verstappen: McLaren woes led to Honda's "careful" Red Bull start
- Honda has more power than Mercedes "in some places" - Hamilton
Verstappen and Kvyat sharing the podium at Hockenheim marked the first time since 1992 that two Honda-powered cars finished inside the top three, and the first time since 1988 that two different Honda teams did so.
In terms of significance for Honda this year, though, Yamamoto admitted the first win with Verstappen in Austria was bigger for the Japanese marque.
“That victory meant a lot for Honda, and after this we are managing our engine very well, better than before," he said. “The biggest thing is that the engineers were so motivated from that win, they were so encouraged.”
Race winner Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium with Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Photo by: Zak Mauger / 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 F1 risked abandoning "every principle of racing" in Austria
Next article Honda facing "very complicated" Red Bull penalty call
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Scott Mitchell
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Formula 1
Formula 1 Jan 3, 2020
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Formula 1
Formula 1 Jan 3, 2020
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
Formula 1
Formula 1 Jan 3, 2020
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
More from
Daniil Kvyat
Ex-F1 driver Daniil Kvyat impresses on Super GT debut with sixth place
Super GT
Super GT
Okayama
7 mo
Ex-F1 driver Daniil Kvyat impresses on Super GT debut with sixth place
Kvyat: Lamborghini can target WEC wins next year with car upgrades
WEC
WEC
Fuji
Oct 8, 2024
Kvyat: Lamborghini can target WEC wins next year with car upgrades
TGM held talks with Kvyat for 2024 Super Formula debut
Super Formula
Super Formula
Motegi
Sep 6, 2024
TGM held talks with Kvyat for 2024 Super Formula debut
More from
Racing Bulls
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Formula 1
Formula 1 10 h
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Tsolov named Red Bull, Racing Bulls reserve driver after missing out on 2027 F1 race seat
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 d
Tsolov named Red Bull, Racing Bulls reserve driver after missing out on 2027 F1 race seat
Latest news
TV ratings released for NASCAR Cup season finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
5 h
TV ratings released for NASCAR Cup season finale
Chase Elliott's car chief leaves Hendrick for NASCAR Truck crew chief role
NASCAR Truck
NSTR NASCAR Truck
Homestead
6 h
Chase Elliott's car chief leaves Hendrick for NASCAR Truck crew chief role
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 10 h
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
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