Honda motorsports general ma𓄧nager Masahi Yamamoto accepts its new partnership with Red Bull brings “huge pressure and responsibility for us” as he sets an initial target of matching the team’s 𒊎current race-winning performance levels.

Following꧂ the official co꧑nfirmation of Red Bull’s switch to Honda engines from 2019, the Japanes🔴e manufacturer will expand its Formula 1 operations to two teams having secured a dea๊l to supply engines to Toro Rosso this year after splitting from McLaren.

Yamamoto is re꧑lishing the opportunity to effectively double its commitments, while hoping the shared knowledge between two teams can step up its development rate, as it looks to close the performance gap to its po꧂wer unit rivals.

The ༺Honda boss accepts the heightened expeꦑctations supplying Red Bull, who secured four consecutive F1 world drivers’ and constructors’ titles between 2010 and 2013 with Renault, and has set the target of ensuring the Milton Keynes-based squad’s performance levels do not drop from its current capabilities this year.

In the opening seven rounds of the 2018 F1 campaign, Red Bull h﷽as secured two race wins along with two additional podium finishes and one pole position which came in Monaco.

“As a starting point, we do not want to see Red Bull Racing’s performance drop below its current level. B☂ut our target is to go further and do better than they are doi🤡ng at the moment,” Yamamoto said.

“It is one of the top team. It has won several championships and this year too it has already won some races. In addition, it is also obvious that they have a very good chassis and this me🧸ans we’ll have better chances of winning races.

“This gives further motivation to all the members of Honda, but at the same time, it is a huge pressure and responsibility for us. However, it is Honda’s nature to always aspire to a very high🀅 target, and I think that’s what makes Honda, Honda.”

After three years of poor performance with McLaren before switching its supply to Toro Rosso this year,🃏 the team secured the Japanese manufacturer’s best result since its return to F1 with Pierre Gasly finishing in fourth place at this year’s Bahrain Grand Prix.

Honda’s last F1 race win came at the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix when Jenson Button clinched his ma༒iden Grand Prix victory for Lucky Strike Honda Racing.