Even though they have an experience disadvantage compared to Ferrari & Co., Christian Horner promises that Red Bull will be just as bold with the engine as they are with the car
Red Bull will be as “bold” in the development of its new Formula 1 engine as it has been with the cars with which the team has won titles, at least that’s what Red Bull team boss Christian Horner says
The Milton Keynes-based team will produce its own engine for the first time from 2026, when the new Red Bull Powertrains division joins forces with Ford.
And while the team is under no illusions about the challenges it will face when competing against manufacturers such as Mercedes, Ferrari and Audi, it believes it can be competitive thanks to the efforts it has made.
“We are on a steep learning curve where we are at a 70-year disadvantage to Ferrari, but we have a great group of people,” Horner points out. “We have the same philosophy with the engine as we do with the chassis. But the engine is a different challenge. There are no guarantees. “
Advantages and disadvantages at Red Bull
Horner says it’s not clear at the moment where Red Bull stands compared to its rivals, but he feels there are elements that work in the team’s favor and those that work against it.
“We don’t know where the others stand with the new rules,” he explains. “It’s a blank slate and we don’t have the advantage of being able to learn from an existing engine. From a budget constraint point of view, that’s a disadvantage.”
“But at the same time, we don’t have the distraction of the current engine and the reliability issues and so on that have to be solved there,” said the Briton.
“I think we won’t really see it until 2026. But at the moment we are achieving our goals. And when I look at the progress we’ve made from a standing start over the past two years, it’s very impressive. “
Horner relies on previous track record
As Formula 1 enters a completely new era of regulations from 2026, in which both the chassis and engine regulations will change at the same time, there is a high probability that the balance of power will be turned upside down.
However, Horner is not worried that Red Bull will be worse off than the competition, even if they have to concentrate on both the car and the engine.
“If I had to back a team to get the chassis right, I think we have a reasonable record,” he says. “With the engine, we’ve started a new project, but we have some exceptional people and an incredible facility. “
“Of course: it’s very brave what we’ve done, and it’s very brave and quite bold, but Red Bull wouldn’t have won 117 races and done what we’ve done without making brave decisions. And we believe it will pay off. “
