Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton hopes that Honda’s progress creates a “💞serious🧜” three-way fight between the leading teams in Formula 1 next year, praising the manufacturer for making “big steps” through 2019.

Max Verstappen scored the third Honda-powered victory of the seasoไn in Brazil last weekend for Red Bull, with Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly – also powered by Honda e𓂃ngines – taking a shock second place finish.

Gasly won a drag race with world champion Hamilton to the finish🎐 line in a clear show of the progress made by Honda’s engines, which previously trailed far behind those of Mercedes and Ferrari.

“The Honda’s ob🤡viousl﷽y made some big steps,” Hamilton said.

“ไIt’s g🙈reat to see another manufacturer as strong as they are now.

“It means that hopefully next year we’re going to have a serious three🌼-way, four-way battle and that’s great for Formula 1.”

Verstappen – who looks poised to t💟ake P3 in the championship for Red Bull-Honda – said he was glad to be writing🐼 new history for Honda.

“The pole was theꦆ last time in 1991 here in Brazil, and then I think it’s a good time to start doing these things again. We keep relying on the results from th⭕e nineties,” Verstappen said.

“I think Honda is d𓆏efinitely on a very good way. Throughout the season they have been improving massively, so just very pleased with it.”

Gas✱ly raced with Honda engines at Toro Rosso through 2018, helping to lay many of the foundations for the Red Bull deal that began this year.

“I think all the workౠ, not only this season, but since they came back into Formula 1, they have had some tough times and they just kept developing, kept working hard and bringing the upgܫrades,” Gasly said.

“Some things worked, some other things didn’t woﷺrk but at the end of the day, they are the ones who have i🃏mproved the most. The attitude and the work they are putting in is just unbelievable.”