Red Bull 相信，即便今年搭载 Honda PU ，仍能获得胜利，因为 Honda 和 Renault 只
有“1%”以内的差距。
https://i.imgur.com/McU0dBF.jpg
在 Red Bull 宣布 2019 赛季将脱离 Renault 并和 Honda 合作之前，Daniel Ricciardo
分别在中国以及摩纳哥取得分站冠军，尽管曾遭遇到 MGU-K 的受损。
而在这个月初，Max Verstappen 惊奇地取得奥地利分站冠军之前，Christian Horner 对
Mortorsport.com 说道：“假设我们今年使用 Honda 的动力单元，我们的表现会和现在
差不了多少。”
“我们仍能赢下我们该得的胜利”Horner说道，“透过实际的量测，Honda 和我们目前的
供应商比较，差距已经在 1% 以内。”
“虽然要追击 Ferrari 和 Mercedes 仍然有显著的差距，但有了 Honda 这般可以全神贯
注在我们身上的供应商，而事实上 Renault 也将重心摆在旗下厂队，我们之间的关系也
越来越像一般的客户，所以是时候要走一条不一样的路了。”
Horner 很明确地指出 Red Bull 想脱离客户状态的需求，并希望能成为相当于正厂队的
车队。
目前 Red Bull 也透过 Toro Rosso 今年搭载的 Honda 引擎，来取得 2019 赛季所需要
的资讯。好比变速箱是由 Red Bull Technologies 提供，但在换上新引擎的同时，这之
间仍然有许多需要进行整合的地方。
提到和 Honda 之间的合作，Horner 表示能更直接地进行整合，同时 Honda 也提供比 Re
nault 更好的设计和研发能力。
“以我们现在和 Renault 的状况来说，像是和引擎相关的各个部件摆放位置，都是取决
于他们的团队。我们需要去配合 Renault 所想的进行调整，有时候我们甚至要妥协。但
和 Honda 合作的话，我们可以和 Honda 透过讨论的方式，将车辆和 PU 能达成更为最佳
化的整合。”
“他们在弯道上有着更快的速度，同时有资源和能力。像 Renault 可能在 R&D 的部分就
遭遇到财政上的困难。Mercedes 和 Ferrari 一样已经花了很多经费，也投入了很多资源
。这些动力单元非常之复杂，你也可以看到任何一个 PU 仍然在进步。”
Horner 表示 Honda 给他了更多的信心，而不是 Renault。Honda 有能力更接近和 Merce
des 及 Ferrari 之间的差距，而不是只是纯粹的改善。同时也特别提到 Honda 让田辺豊
治来担任 F1 技术总监的这项人事异动，是个重要决策，能将 Honda R&D Sakura 不亚于
别人的设备，转化为能迈向成功的产品。
“Honda 已经加强他们的工程以及技术领导者，他们将会为团队带来一些良好的经验，并
将成功展现在赛道上。”
https://i.imgur.com/oDPYTkW.jpg
原文连结：
https://goo.gl/56J9Fi
原文标题：
Red Bull would have still won with Honda - Horner
内文
Red Bull believes it would have earned victories this season with Honda's Form
ula 1 engine because the Japanese manufacturer is "within one percent" of Rena
ult.
Daniel Ricciardo triumphed in China then won from pole in Monaco despite suffe
ring an early MGU-K failure, before Red Bull's switch from Renault to Honda fo
r 2019 was announced.
Speaking to Motorsport.com in Austria earlier this month ahead of Max Verstapp
en's surprise victory, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said "we'd be
no different to where we are now" had it used Honda engines in 2018.
"We'd have still won the grands prix we won," said Horner. "Honda are within o
ne per cent of our measurement of where we currently are.
"There's still a significant chunk to get to Ferrari and Mercedes but having t
he full focus of an OEM like Honda behind us, combined with the fact that with
Renault we were becoming more and more the customer as inevitably their focus
becomes more centred on their own team, it was absolutely the right timing to
go this different path."
Horner has previously outlined the need for Red Bull to escape the customer st
atus it has found itself in with Renault, having previously enjoyed a de facto
r works team role.
Red Bull has used Toro Rosso's Honda engine supply this year to learn about wh
at its 2019 engine will require.
As well as Red Bull Technologies building the gearbox, there is transferable k
nowledge about what chassis changes are required to accommodate the new engine
.
Horner said that would lead to a relatively straightforward integration with H
onda, which he says offers greater design and development capacity than Renaul
t.
"With where we currently are with Renault, the positioning of any box, any jun
cture, on the engine, is dictated by their own works team," said Horner.
"We have to accommodate whatever Renault Enstone want to adopt. Sometimes we h
ave to make compromises to accommodate that.
"With Honda, we will have the ability to have the discussions in advance to tr
y to optimise the integration between engine and chassis.
"They are earlier on the curve and they have the resource and the capacity. On
e of the biggest issues that probably Renault have struggled with is probably
the financial commitment to the R&D process.
"Mercedes have spent a lot of money, and invested heavily, as have Ferrari.
"These power units are extremely complex and you can see now that there are st
ill incremental gains being made with the introduction of each power unit."
Horner said this gave him more confidence that Honda, not Renault, would be ab
le to close the gap, not just make improvements.
He highlighted personnel changes like Toyoharu Tanabe being made F1 technical
director as key decisions that will translate Honda's "second-to-none" facilit
ies at Sakura into "the right end product".
"They've reinforced their engineering and technical leadership," he said. "The
y've bought some good experience into the group now and that's showing on trac
k."