Red Bull Racing's Christian Horner insists that when the time comes to choose its power unit for 2019, the primary criteria will be performance.
The Milton Keynes-based team will either extend its partnership with Renault or attempt a bold switch to Honda, the beleaguered manufacturer in search of an engineering rebirth with Toro Rosso this year.
Red Bull will be in a position to witness first hand Honda's progress this season, but at the end of the day, only sheer performance will sway the team's vote.
"I think they have made very good grounds over the winter," says Horner.
"We have got a front row seat to see how that product is developing and performing with Toro Rosso. And it will all come down to performance. We want the most performant engine in the back of the car."
Horner remarks that having the luxury of a choice has been a rare occurrence for Red bull in the past.
"Obviously we are in a position for the first time in probably the last 10 years that we have a choice moving forwards," he says.
"And that is a position that we have not been in for a long, long time. There has either been a veto or a block or a non desire from supplier to supply."
Red Bull motorsport boss Helmut Marko is convinced that soon, Honda will be on an equal par with Renault in terms of performance and reliability.
"The Honda package is technically interesting," the Austrian told Motorsport.com.
"The engine is very light and now the reliability is there. They speak of continuous performance improvements.
"The engine should be at Renault level by the end of this year."
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