Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez of Red Bull F1 visited Honda headquarters. He talked regarding his thoughts on the Japanese GP and what Honda means to the drivers.
After three years, the F1 Japan GP has finally started. What’s more, Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen has become the biggest winner in deciding the championship, attracting attention from all over the world.
17 of the 22 races scheduled for this season have ended in the F1 World Championship, which will be fought around the world. Red Bull Racing is leading the constructors (team) ranking with 13 wins. In addition to supporting the team as a team partner, Honda will provide technical assistance through HRC (Honda Racing) to support the assembly of the power unit (PU, engine + hybrid mechanism), which is the heart of the machine, and its operation at the race site. ing.
Furthermore, with Honda serving as the title sponsor of the Japan GP, this event is sometimes held as the “Honda Japan Grand Prix Race”, making the drivers feel like they are at their home race.
“The Japanese GP is really special to me, and I look forward to it every year, but I was very disappointed that I might not come to Japan for the last two years, so I am very happy to meet the Japanese fans once more. He is very well behaved and sociable, but he is also very enthusiastic regarding F1.The original cosplay is also interesting and I love it,” said Max Verstappen.
Sergio Perez said, “I’m very happy to be back in Japan following 3 years and to meet all the fans. I’ve been really looking forward to this Japanese GP because it was such a shame that I mightn’t celebrate with you.”
Max Verstappen has scored 11 wins so far this season and is the driver’s champion. Sergio Perez also took his second win of the season in the previous round, the Singapore GP, and both drivers entered the Japanese GP in excellent condition.
“It’s been a season with a lot of ups and downs,” said Sergio Pérez.
“After a good start, I needed a few races to get used to the machine as it developed. But there are still five races left in the season and I definitely want to win the Japanese Grand Prix. For Honda, it would be nice if we might finish 1-2 in this weekend’s race.”
Max Verstappen said, “There is a lot of expectation that Suzuka will win the championship, so I will do my best to make it come true. We need to have a perfect race weekend, but I will do my best to achieve it. I am confident that I will win the race. be”
Dream power for F1 drivers
A driver who has dreamed of competing on the world stage of F1. First, Sergio Perez looked back on his progress so far.
“When I was 6 years old, I was riding in a racing kart handed down from my older brother. I was a little older than my brother, so it was a kart that kids over 10 might ride, but it was too big for my little self. (laughs) At first, I mightn’t even imagine doing a time attack.At the time, I mightn’t imagine leaving Mexico to be on the world stage. I would go out and talk regarding machines with my friends, ride karts, and then go play soccer, and it was just a fun day. It really makes me feel nostalgic that I uploaded it.”
Sergio Perez has grown steadily and became the fifth Mexican F1 driver. Currently, he is a racing driver representing his home country both in name and reality.
“There is a legendary Mexican driver, Pedro Rodríguez, who was active in the 1960s. I am deeply moved by the fact that I was able to surpass that driver. So I hope more kids will jump into the world of F1 in the future following me.”
And Max Verstappen, who won the F1 World Champion in the final race of 2021. What emotions do you feel when your dreams come true?
“It was a great feeling when my long-cherished dream came true. It was a special feeling because I had achieved a goal that I had always wanted to achieve. It may never be experienced once more,” said Max Verstappen.
“The moment the champion was decided, everything felt rewarded. And all the memories came back from when I started karting when I was young. Everything connected to the dream of becoming an F1 champion. There. It made me want to enjoy the moment.”
And Max Verstappen, who has continued to make good progress this season and is one step closer to becoming the champion for the second consecutive year. He will continue to greedily aim for victory, but he says he wants to “enjoy it”.
“Right now, the whole package, including the car and the PU, is competitive. We can still achieve a lot. I want to continue
“But on the other hand, these days go by so quickly that I have to enjoy them. It feels great to be competitive with myself and the car, and I’m heading towards my goals. It’s fun to keep trying.”
Ties with Honda
In 2021, Max Verstappen, who brought the world champion to Honda F1, and Sergio Perez, who supported it. Two people told me regarding their encounter with Honda.
Sergio Perez said, “When I was a child, F1 was not so famous in Mexico, and I often watched champ car (currently Indycar) races. Actually, Adrian, who was fighting champ cars with Honda engines. Fernandez and my father worked together, and since then I thought Honda was a great company and I always respected them, so now I can say that working with Honda is a dream come true. maybe,” he says.
“Right now I’m riding a Honda CR-V, but it’s perfect for going out with my family. I used to own a Honda scooter, and I’ve ridden it with 60cc, 80cc, and 125cc displacement gradually. After that, he loaned me an NSX for a year, but I returned it because it was too conspicuous for a car that I haven’t driven much in Mexico (laughs).”
And the meeting between Max Verstappen and Honda seems like fate.
“I think I was three years old, and since then I’ve been on a Honda F1 car!” says Verstappen.
In March 1998, Honda a was aiming to participate in F1 as a constructor that also made machines, but at that time, “RA099” was made as a test machine. The test driver was Max Verstappen’s father, Jos Verstappen. There is a photo of a young Max Verstappen in the cockpit of the RA099 that accompanied the test. After more than 20 years, this boy won the championship with Honda F1 PU.
Max Verstappen said, “I don’t have many memories of that time, but Honda was preparing a machine for the 2000 race. It was a beautiful machine, and I still think it’s a great racing machine.” says.
As a driver who has been aiming to become an F1 driver since childhood, how does Honda look through his work?
Sergio Perez commented, “Honda is very dedicated to their work. Every day, everyone is doing their best to improve the PU.”
“This is a great honor, and I’m really happy to be able to race with such a PU. If you tell the team something regarding the PU, Honda will improve it, and it’s great teamwork.”
“For example, at the Singapore GP last week, it was very hot and humid, and at the beginning of the race week we had issues with drivability (ease of handling the engine), but they made adjustments before the race. It’s easier to fight and I hope this relationship will last for many years.”
“The PU is by far the best,” says Max Verstappen.
“I’ve been on F1 cars with five brands of engines so far, but the Honda’s engine sound is completely different. This year we have even higher top speeds, but we can race with these engines. The reason is that the Honda staff are doing their best work.”
“They have been very helpful in our battles on the track, and they have demonstrated their strength in overtaking. The bond between us and Honda is very strong, and I think we have reached an even higher level this year. I am happy that we can win races together, and of course I want to win the championship.”
Before the F1 Japan GP, Honda a announced that it would strengthen its partnership with the Red Bull Group with the aim of further developing motorsports. Sergio Perez has been appointed as an ambassador for the Honda Racing School, and will participate as an F1 driver in “Honda Racing THANKS DAY 2022” to be held on Sunday, November 27th.
Also, as a symbol of the strong bond between Honda and the Red Bull Group, Honda’s logo will be displayed on the machines of Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri, which will compete with PUs that utilize the same Honda technology, from this weekend’s race. there is
Category: F1 / honda f1 / red bull / F1 Japan GP / Sergio Perez / Max Verstappen
