Marko: Honda to be 10 kilowatts behind in 2019

Dr Helmut Marko is "very optimistic" about Red Bull's title hopes in 2019, with the side switching power units to Honda from Renault.

Red Bull Racing announced earlier this season that they'd be switching power unit suppliers for the 2019 season; with the team ending their long-term relationship with current suppliers Renault and switching to Honda.

With the aerodynamic rule change for next season, Marko is very optimistic about the switch: "We already have the numbers from the new wings and it makes us very optimistic," Marko told Auto Motor und Sport.

Honda previously supplied McLaren's power unit between 2015 and 2017, and struggled - but we have since seen the Japanese manufacturer make progress with Toro Rosso.

"We expect that Honda will be only 10 kilowatts behind Ferrari and Mercedes. We think we can compensate for this with a good chassis," Marko continued.

Marko believes Max Verstappen's win in Mexico last weekend was because the circuit equalises the performances of the engines.

"No one ever wants to believe it when we keep saying it," Marko said. "In Brazil, it will be difficult for us again because of the long uphill straights. But let's see what we can do in Abu Dhabi. Our car currently seems to be very fast."