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Formula 1: Red Bull Racing confirm engine manufacturer for 2019 season

By Asher Fair

MONTMELO, SPAIN - MAY 13: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Aston Martin Red Bull Racing RB14 TAG Heuer leads Daniel Ricciardo of Australia driving the (3) Aston Martin Red Bull Racing RB14 TAG Heuer on track during the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit de Catalunya on May 13, 2018 in Montmelo, Spain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
MONTMELO, SPAIN - MAY 13: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Aston Martin Red Bull Racing RB14 TAG Heuer leads Daniel Ricciardo of Australia driving the (3) Aston Martin Red Bull Racing RB14 TAG Heuer on track during the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit de Catalunya on May 13, 2018 in Montmelo, Spain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) /
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Red Bull Racing have confirmed their engine manufacturer decision for the 2019 Formula 1 season after their decision was revealed yesterday by external sources.

Red Bull Racing have confirmed that following the 2018 Formula 1 season, they will be ending their relationship with Renault as their engine manufacturer. They have used Renault as their engine manufacturer in each of the last 12 seasons.

In fact, only twice since Red Bull Racing entered Formula 1 in the 2005 season did they not use Renault to supply their engines. They used Cosworth to supply their engines in the 2005 season and Ferrari to supply their engines in the 2006 season, and they have been using Renault to do so ever since.

Starting in the 2019 Formula 1 season, Red Bull Racing are set to use Honda as their engine manufacturer for the first time, as they signed a two-year deal with the Japanese company to do so.

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This engine switch was widely speculated after Scuderia Toro Rosso, the Red Bull Racing junior team, switched from Renault engines to Honda engines before the 2018 season began and McLaren switched from Honda engines to Renault engines to keep Renault at their three-team limit, as they also naturally supply engines for the factory Renault team, Renault Sport.

Red Bull Racing confirmed the news regarding their engine switch in the 2019 season on their Twitter account. Here is how they made the announcement.

https://twitter.com/redbullracing/status/1008967538137583616

Here is what Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner had to say about the team switching from Renault engines to Honda engines in the 2019 Formula 1 season, according to The Drive.

"“This multi-year agreement with Honda signals the start of an exciting new phase in Aston Martin Red Bull Racing’s efforts to compete not just for Grand Prix wins but for what is always our goal—championship titles.“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.”"

Here is what Honda president and representative director Takahiro Hachigo had to say about Red Bull Racing’s decision, according to The Drive.

"“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.”"

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With Red Bull Racing having confirmed that they will indeed switch from Renault engines to Honda engines in the 2019 Formula 1 season, we can begin to look ahead even with 14 of the 21 races on the 2018 Formula 1 schedule still yet to be contested.

How will the team perform in their final 14 races of their contract with Renault this year? Will they improve next year with Honda engines to the point where they compete for the 2019 championship, or will they take a step back? Will they still be the third fastest team in the sport behind Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport and Scuderia Ferrari?

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