Honda warns Verstappen ahead of Hamilton: 'It won't be easy'

After a P2 and a P3 in qualifying, Honda was in for a real treat after Verstappen's victory at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. The Japanese have clearly taken a step forward in the winter, and that is paying off.

Red Bull Racing has got off to a great start to the 2021 Formula 1 season. Verstappen took pole in Bahrain and the Red Bull drivers were on P2 and P3 in Imola. It shows that Honda has made a big step forward in the winter, and Masashi Yamamoto is very proud of that.

''A win at the beginning of the season is very important, so I am very happy that Verstappen has already won the second race of the season. ''I was pleasantly surprised when I heard the Red Bull Racing Honda name on the podium,'' the Honda top executive said to the Japanese as-web.jp.

''It was difficult conditions due to the sudden rain before the race. Verstappen did a great job in the rain though, in a race where our cars were also able to fight well. Hamilton won the first lap, with Verstappen on two, but now it was the other way around. This fight will continue for some time, but with the speed Hamilton showed today, it is clear that it will not be an easy fight'', Yamamoto concludes.