McLaren Doubted Red Bull’s Honda Partnership, Franz Tost Reveals

Former Toro Rosso and AlphaTauri team principal Franz Tost has disclosed that McLaren executives expressed skepticism about Red Bull Racing’s decision to partner with Honda in Formula 1. This revelation highlights a significant shift in fortunes for both teams and underscores the success of the Red Bull-Honda alliance.

Early Reservations from McLaren

According to Tost, representatives from McLaren approached him in 2017, questioning Red Bull’s rationale for collaborating with Honda. “McLaren people came to me and said we were totally crazy to work together with Honda,” Tost recounted. He confidently predicted that the success of the partnership would become evident within five years, a timeframe ultimately surpassed as results materialized much sooner. [Source: The Sports Rush]

A Troubled Past with Honda

McLaren’s apprehension stemmed from a difficult period between 2015 and 2017, during which their partnership with Honda was plagued by unreliable and underperforming power units. Fernando Alonso famously described the Honda engine as a “GP2 Engine” during the 2015 Japanese Grand Prix, illustrating the depth of frustration within the team. [Source: The Sports Rush]

Red Bull’s Successful Collaboration

In contrast to McLaren’s experience, Red Bull and its sister team, AlphaTauri, forged a highly successful partnership with Honda. This collaboration yielded significant results, including Max Verstappen’s first F1 World Championship title in 2021 and subsequent Constructors’ Championships for Red Bull in 2022 and 2023. [Source: The Sports Rush]

Honda’s Legacy and Red Bull’s Achievements

The Red Bull-Honda partnership surpassed McLaren’s achievements during its championship-winning years, securing 54 race victories compared to McLaren’s 42 with Honda. Max Verstappen also became the most successful Honda-powered driver in F1 history. [Source: The Sports Rush]

Tost’s Observations on McLaren’s Approach

Franz Tost also suggested that McLaren’s previous issues with Honda were partly due to a lack of collaboration and information sharing. He noted that Red Bull fostered a strong connection with Honda from the outset, leading to a more productive and successful relationship. [Source: GrandPrix.com] He further stated that McLaren “kept everything to themselves,” hindering their ability to maximize the potential of the Honda power unit. [Source: GrandPrix.com]

Looking Ahead

As Honda prepares to partner with Aston Martin in 2026 and Red Bull develops its own power unit with Ford, the legacy of the Red Bull-Honda partnership remains a testament to the power of collaboration and a willingness to embrace new challenges. [Source: GrandPrix.com]