Max Verstappen has praised the efforts of Honda following their third world title together with Red Bull in Formula 1.

Max Verstappen has praised the efforts of Honda following their third world title together with Red Bull in Formula 1.

The Japanese power unit maker has been supplying Red Bull in all three of the title-winning years with Verstappen, following their difficult spell with McLaren at the start of the hybrid era.

When asked how much of an important role they have played in his success, Verstappen told media, including RacingNews365: “It’s massive. It’s the chassis together with the engine that allows you to achieve these kinds of things.

“I’m very happy to work with Honda. I always have been. They are amazing people, they’re always super polite but also super motivated and always willing to listen and of course willing to improve.”

Verstappen: They will always have a special place in my heart

Honda announced in October 2020 that it would withdraw from being Red Bull’s official engine partner at the end of 2021.

This was followed by an interim period in 2022 and 2025, in which Honda continues to supply Red Bull with power units as a paid contractor before leaving the team in 2026 to join Aston Martin.

While Verstappen has previously said it was a “shame” they would be leaving Red Bull, there is no animosity between the two.

“They will always have a special place in my heart even when, of course, they leave at the end of ‘25,” said Verstappen.

 

“I’m very proud also for them, from where we started as a team together and where we are at now. I think we can all be very proud of that.”