The prospect of Red Bull ditching Renault in favour of Honda power next season is one that obviously enthralls the energy drink company's billionaire co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz.

On the back of an apparent power unit failure that put Daniel Ricciardo out of Sunday's German Grand Prix, after the Red Bull driver had endured several engine component changes the day before, Mateschitz praised the team's decision to sign up with Honda for the next few seasons, and took a dig at current engine partner Renault.

"In the last few years, we have been among the top three teams, but we were managing to do so with a below average engine," Mateschitz told Welt am Sonntag.

The 74-year-old business magnate and owner of Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso lamented the fact that in the past few years, the Milton Keynes-based outfit had no other choice put to contend with a supply of engines from the French manufacturer.

"Both Ferrari and Mercedes were at risk of Red Bull being faster than their factory teams, so they would not give us an engine," said the Austrian.

Mateschitz is confident in the future however, believing a productive relationship awaits Red Bull and Honda.

"The solution to our problem is a partner that has all the prerequisites for developing a top engine that fits perfectly with Red Bull and vice versa," he added.

"The goal can only be a joint journey to the very top."

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