Red Bull’s Helmut Marko claims Mercedes are trying to delay the start date of Ben Hodgkinson, who will head up its new powertrain department.
Last week Red Bull Racing announced that Hodgkinson will leave his role as head of engineering at Mercedes’ engine division, High Performance Powertrains, to become technical director of Red Bull Powertrains.
The signing is seen as a major coup for the energy drinks team, which is looking to develop its own engine to meet the 2025 technical regulations, following Honda’s withdrawal from the sport at the end of the season.
Whilst Hodgkinson will have a period of gardening leave to serve before he can begin working with Red Bull, Marko claims their Formula 1 rival is trying to extend that via legal routes.
“Mercedes is now trying everything legally to delay starting work,” the Austrian told F1-Insider. “But it won’t take as long as Mercedes would like.”
Marko revealed that Hodgkinson approached Red Bull, refuting claims they poached him, and teased yet more big name signings.
“The decisive factor is that we didn’t have to poach him, but he applied for our ad on his own. Nor is he the only one who wants to see us. There are also other top-class names, but I cannot yet name them.”
Red Bull are hoping to employ around 100 people for its new powertrain department, which will carry out maintenance and preparation works on its Honda power units, as well as manufacturing parts to ensure the engines will see the team through to 2025, when a new formula will be introduced.
After Honda announced its withdrawal from F1, Red Bull has agreed an intellectual property deal with the Japanese manufacturer, that will allow it to continue using the power unit design. It also successfully lobbied F1 and its stakeholders for an engine development freeze from next season.
Dear Sirs,
On your ‘drivers standings’ graphic you show a Monegasque flag next to Max Verstappen and although he does live in Monaco I think he is still Dutch and racing under a Dutch license so maybe a Dutch flag would be more appropriate?
Kind regards
Frank Teeuwen
When people like that are leaving without even being approached, then something is not right. Clearly with all of the talent leaving, and Hamilton waiting so long to sign a contract, things are not well at Mercedes. Just by watching F1 this year you can feel something is off with the team. Luckily for them they are pretty much on autopilot until the new regulations, and unless they do something really stupid, they will win both titles again this year. But I wouldn’t want to be someone heading there in the coming years (I fear for Russell’s future if he goes there).