Possibly bad timing from Honda: "Isn't this too early again?

Honda's announced departure from Formula 1 this Friday came as a shock. Also for the regular analysts at Ziggo Sport. The surprise is even bigger because Honda seemed to be on the right track together with Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen.

"Of course I am surprised," says Tom Coronel on Formule 1 Café straight away. "I thought, 'How can it be? I mean, it has happened before. In 2009, Honda stepped out and Brawn became world champion with everything that was ready for Honda. So I have the feeling again, isn't this just too soon what they're doing?"

Coronel thinks that Honda, together with Red Bull, went down the right road and that great successes with Max Verstappen are only a matter of time. "They only recently have that marriage with Red Bull. That is their second year and a year longer with AlphaTauri. You see them grow, you see that it's coming and then it's all done in one go".

Then there is some discussion at the table as to whether Honda has grown this season. Coronel thinks so and according to him you can explain the increasing difference with Mercedes better by highlighting the performance of Mercedes. "Mercedes may be growing a bit more, but Honda is still growing."