Honda development with Red Bull hits a snag… already!

A report out of Germany has alleged that the development of Honda's 2019 power unit was recently hit by a snag.

According to AutoBild, the Japanese manufacturer's collaboration with leading simulation and testing company AVL has been terminated due to a disagreement between an AVL project leader and Honda engineers.

Honda had been using AVL's innovative systems, previously exploited by Ferrari for the development of the Scuderia's engines, to validate and improve its development work on its F1 engine.

• Brawn: Honda success will depend on Red Bull setting 'the right priorities'

Red Bull motorsport boss Helmut Marko confirmed Honda's split with AVL, but the Austrian also revealed that engine guru Mario Illien had been drafted in to help Honda in its efforts to solve a major vibration issue linked with its ICE (internal combustion unit).

AutoBild's report indicates that the problem has so far prevented Honda from running its unit at full capacity, thus limiting the engine's output.

"For this issue, appropriate measures have been initiated," Marko told AutoBild.

For now, Marko isn't walking back his projections for 2019, the Austrian remaining bullish on Honda and Red Bull's prospects.

"Honda has already overtaken Renault and will be even better in 2019," he said.

"Then Max [Verstappen] has everything together to make it. He is improving all the time, there seems to be no limit for him!"

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