Claiming their first F1 race win since 2006, Honda F1 technical director Toyoharu Tanabe says Max Verstappen’s Austrian GP win is a “new beginning”.

After briefly running as a full works team, Honda walked away from Formula 1 at the of 2008 before returning to the sport in 2015 as McLaren’s engine partner.

Those struggles have been widely reported on with McLaren blaming Honda for all their woes before ending the partnership in 2017.

Honda swapped to Toro Rosso before also taking on Red Bull at the start of this season.

Nine races into that partnership and Honda have a first win on the board thanks to Verstappen’s P1 at the Red Bull Ring.

“We finally made it,” Tanabe enthused.

“This win is also a way of saying thank you to all our fans, all over the world, for their continued support.

“We have been back in this sport since 2015, but today feels like a new beginning.”

Tears of joy [email protected] #AustrianGP ?? pic.twitter.com/V3zbgXpgRR

— Formula 1 (@F1) June 30, 2019

The hard work, though, is by no means over for Honda.

Tanabe said: “We keep pushing very hard towards the end of the season and next year as well.”

Race winner Verstappen added: “It’s not been easy for them (Honda) in the past but today it’s been incredible, so I’m very happy for them.”

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