We know the Japanese from Honda as down to earth, often even against the stoic. But once in a while they show emotion and passion like no other. So is Honda’s motorsport chief Masashi Yamamoto. Max Verstappen’s victory last weekend, enforced on the streets of Monaco, is one that stirs up emotions in him, he says in a column for Honda.
“This was the first time Honda has won in Monaco since the Ayrton Senna era, but I always see similarities between Max Verstappen and Senna. His way of driving feels like Senna’s and that makes him a very special driver for Honda.”
Successes like this make Yamamoto want the F1 adventure not to end at the end of the year: “I wish we could continue fighting together even longer, but I am also very happy that I was able to contribute to this special event. victory in Monaco. As he is still only 23 years old, he has what it takes to match or even surpass Senna’s record of six wins in Monaco. I am incredibly proud to have laid the cornerstone for that . “
For Honda, the victory came at the right time, as it was the last chance for the motorcycle manufacturer, who wanted to win the race at all costs from the moment they returned to the top motorsport stage in 2015: “This was Honda’s sixth appearance in Monaco since 2015. In those first years we felt a different kind of tension, there was a lot to learn. We didn’t have a realistic chance of victory then. “
“But in 2019, the first year of working with Red Bull, a competitive team, I absolutely wanted to win. That would bring us close to the heyday of the late 1980s, early 1990s, when we triumphed six years in a row. in Monaco. That time symbolizes our golden era in F1, and we really wanted to relive those times. “
This year the time had come and Yamamoto is grateful to everyone who contributed to it, not least Verstappen himself: “It may have looked easy, but small problems or errors are always lurking. the team helped Verstappen perfectly. “
“And as for Verstappen himself. I can’t imagine that you can be that adult when you are only 23 years old”, Yamamoto concludes his praise.
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