Mercedes anticipates Honda will ‘give it a big go’ in 2021

Mercedes expects Red Bull’s recent upturn in form to transition over to 2021 as engine supplier Honda is sure to “give it a big go” before leaving Formula 1.

The Brackley-based outfit secured a record seventh constructors’ championship in a row at Imola, and only Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas can now mathematically win the drivers’ title.

While Mercedes has dominated the 2020 season with 11 victories, as well as claiming pole position at all of the 13 races, Red Bull has looked more of a threat at recent races.

The Austrian outfit’s engine supplier Honda is reported to be working on a brand new engine for 2021 to attempt a title challenge ahead of its departure at the end of next year.

Wary of Red Bull’s progress and Honda’s work behind the scenes, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is clear the team cannot afford to sit back, predicting an ever stronger Red Bull in 2021.

Asked if Red Bull’s performance was now a concern, Wolff said, as quoted by Motorsport.com: “We always worry, because you can say that this season was probably our strongest and with the biggest gap, but there was rarely more than three cars in front.

“Max is also doing a fantastic job. He’s probably driving better than the car is actually capable of bringing. It’s like a deja vu every single weekend where you have these three amigos out in front and he’s just clinging on with his finger tips to the Mercedes.

“Therefore next year, Honda is going to give it a big go I guess in the last season, and everybody at Red Bull is going to be motivated. Last but not least, Max.”

Honda announced it was pulling out of F1 in September as it intends to make its road car company carbon neutral, leaving Red Bull without an engine deal from 2022 onwards.

The team is considering its options, wanting a decision made by at end of the year, with its preferred choice to take over Honda’s project.

Should it want to go down this route it would need a freeze on engine development to be applied, but Ferrari and Renault have made it clear they wouldn’t support this direction.