Honda's first season with Red Bull will receive mixed reviews but the Japanese engine manufacturer has got a positive report from one party. Fuel supplier ExxonMobil believes the engine provider is getting more and more confident.
Honda have achieved two race wins this year, Max Verstappen scoring both in Austria and Germany. They also earned P3 in Germany with Daniil Kvyat finishing on the podium for Toro Rosso.
Verstappen's victory in Austria was their first since 2006, Jenson Button in Hungary. Dario Izzo has given Honda a vote of confidence and believes they are getting better and better.
"They wanted us to take a sample every time a car entered the pit box. In practice, that meant that after a few laps in free practise, we had to perform a new check over and over," Izzo told Motorsport.com.
"That had everything to do with their own expectations of wear and reliability.
"At Honda, they probably have more confidence in their own material. And that is not without reason, Honda is just doing well."