Red Bull boss coy over Honda switch

Red Bull Formula One team chief Christian Horner was unexpectedly coy when it was suggested his team may take a supply of Honda engines next year.

In yet another twist in his team’s engines saga, Honda was the hot topic of paddock gossip at the United States Grand Prix where torrential rain led to the cancellation of the afternoon’s second free practice session.

“I think, so far, we have had a rumour for every single engine supplier mentioned in the back of our car for next year,” said an evasive Horner.

“So, I guess that they have a 25 per cent chance, looking at it that way. I think there is so much speculation — and a lot of opinions are being based on it.

“When we have something to say, and something fixed, you will be the first to know. It is being worked on really hard at the moment.”

Red Bull are hunting an engine for next season after announcing their split from Renault, but they have been unable to land deals with Ferrari or Mercedes.

Honda has said, in the past, that it did not wish to supply more than one team — it is supplier to McLaren in a relationship that has seen the team endure a torrid year of struggles for performance and reliability.

But many paddock observers believe that it would accelerate Honda’s progress to supply two rival teams.

Horner admitted he needed to find a solution quickly.

“It is getting tight,” he said. “We have a great group of people. They are very adaptive, doing what they can with the information they have — at the moment they are coping very well with that.”

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