Mercedes says Red Bull-Honda were “way ahead of Ferrari” in 2019 development rate

Mercedes Formula 1 engine boss Andy Cowell has praised Aston Martin Red Bull Racing engine supplier Honda for their improvement in 2019, saying they are “way ahead of Ferrari” in their development rate.

Honda returned to F1 in 2015 with McLaren but it became a troublesome partnership with engine reliability causing issues for the three seasons they were together.
 
The Woking based team parted ways with the Japanese manufacturer, who went on to supply for Toro Rosso in 2018, a move which helped them prove themselves to parent team Red Bull.
 
Honda teamed up with the energy drinks team and throughout the season developed their engine to challenge Mercedes and Ferrari, with Max Verstappen taking three wins throughout 2019, while claiming eight more podiums with two coming from Toro Rosso.
 
Cowell expressed his praise for the Japanese manufacturer for their improvement and development rate compared to Ferrari, believing they could be a real threat.
 
"Honda are the best improvers this year, they're way ahead of Ferrari in terms of development rate," Cowell said in a Motorsport Magazine podcast.
 
"Red Bull can make championship winning cars, Max Verstappen is formidable and Honda...their investment in what they're doing is huge and their determination is huge.
 
"And that's showing on track, and you can see that the structure and sound decision-making being done. It's going to be exciting."