Mercedes too strong for Honda: 'We didn't expect that'

The world title in 2020 was not in it for Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen, but Honda did see the Dutchman approaching records this season. In Honda's final season, however, things should be even better.

Mercedes too strong

Prior to the Formula 1 season of 2020, expectations were high. For Verstappen, this was the last chance to become the youngest world champion ever and Red Bull and Honda had had the best winter ever. However, the title was unfeasible, as Mercedes was once again too strong.

''Of course we as a team have made great strides throughout the season, but the fairness area to say that Mercedes had made more progress than we had expected. However, we have to keep developing, to beat a big organisation like Mercedes,'' says Masashi Yamamoto in a piece for Honda.

Honda sets the bar high

''Verstappen won twice this year and was on stage eleven times. After Alain Prost in 1988 (14 times) and Ayrton Senna in 1991 (12 times) this is the highest number ever achieved in the season. Max's number of victories may not be that high, but it has to be said that this record has also been achieved because of Max's qualities.''

Yamamoto, however, knows that things need to improve in Honda's last season. ''Of course it is always about winning a race and not the records if you don't win a title in the end. Next year we want to break those records and there's nothing better than to win the championship in the end,'' concludes the Honda top man.