The win in Brazil was a historic milestone for Honda and their partners at Red Bull and Toro Rosso. Jolyon Palmer believes that if the Honda-Toro Rosso alliance remains intact, they could potentially shake things up in the 2021 season, even with the upcoming rule changes.
Honda's partnership with Red Bull was firmly validated when Max Verstappen and Pierre Gasly crossed the line as first and second. Verstappen's commanding win (1:33.14) and Gasly's impressive second-place finish (+6.077s) have repositioned Honda as a serious force in engine manufacturing.
Had they failed this season, Honda might have walked away from F1 investment entirely. Their journey back from the struggles of the 2015 McLaren era involved partnering with two teams, a move that proved crucial. Their current progress is a testament to their relentless effort and commitment to improvement.
Honda's success trajectory is clear: first came Max's victory in Hungary, followed by the second win in Brazil, and finally a third win courtesy of Pierre Gasly. This puts Honda in a position to compete with pride in future Grand Prix events.
Toyoharu Tanabe, the Technical Director at Honda F1, noted that the synergy between the car and the power unit worked perfectly for both teams. He views this as a promising sign for the season finale and hopes the result secures a bright future for the project.
This victory felt like a fresh start for everyone involved, especially since Pierre Gasly fulfilled his dream of a podium finish with Toro Rosso. Max Verstappen's dominant performance, which he described as an emotional triumph, summed up the mood of the team. Had Honda decided to leave F1, it would have been a devastating blow to Verstappen, likely forcing him to switch teams and ruining his hopes for a 2020 title. In that sense, Honda's decision to stay and invest in R&D was perfectly timed for everyone.
Former Renault driver Jolyon Palmer noted in his column that Honda didn't just get a 1-2 finish; they did it in the most ideal way for an engine supplier. He suggests that since the 2020 regulations aren't changing significantly, Red Bull has a genuine chance to be challengers throughout the entire season.