No engine rebranding in store at Red Bull for 2019

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Red Bull won't rebrand its Honda engines next year, departing from its current and past policy which has seen Renault power units hide under the TAG Heuer name.

It was initially believed the Milton-Keynes-based outfit, which enjoys a significant commercial partnership with Aston Martin, could possibly tweak its official appellation to accommodate the luxury brand automobile manufacturer.

However, neither Honda or Aston Martin have expressed any opposition to including both names in the team's 2019 designation.

"Aston Martin stands for sports cars, which is an overlap only with our NSX model," Honda boss Masahi Yamamoto told Speed Week.

"We discussed this at the board level and they think it's no problem. It's actually quite funny. In Tokyo, opposite our headquarters, a new car dealer was recently set up.

"Which brand? Aston Martin!" the Japanese laughed.

Honda boss relishing the opportunity to grow with Red Bull

Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer insists he is on the same page as Yamamoto.

"Very clearly, the team name is Aston Martin Red Bull Racing and then of course the FIA adds the [engine] manufacturer name," Palmer told Motorsport.com.

"But let's be brutally honest. While it was called TAG, everybody knew it was a Renault. And in that sense, the difference between whether it is a Renault or a Honda?

"Aston Martin has zero cross shopping with both brands. So we are completely indifferent to the name."

Palmer revealed that he had been consulted by Red Bull before the team reaches its decision to switch to Honda power for next season. As far as the British manager is concerned, anything that can help the team improve deserves the green light, with perhaps a few exceptions.

"Look, if it was a Ferrari engine I would have a problem! And that would be a red line," he said.

"But our customers don't cross shop us with either Renault or Honda, and basically can I say that Honda is more of a problem than Renault covered up with the name of the TAG? I honestly don't think so.

"We've known about it for a while and we fundamentally agree with where Red Bull wanted to go.

"Let's be clear: we don't have a veto, we were simply part of the consultation process and that is part of the philosophy by which we go Formula 1 racing."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.