Red Bull is optimistic the team’s budding powertrains venture from 2025 will enable it to have a greater ceiling in Formula 1 than it has with previous engine suppliers.
Honda’s initial choice to exit F1 once the 2021 season concluded prompted Red Bull to decide to set up its own engine division to tackle the pending new regulations.
Red Bull announced in 2022 that it will partner with American automotive marque Ford, which last competed in the sport when it operated a works team back in 2004.
However, Red Bull’s relationship with Honda, who will become Aston Martin’s supplier in 2026, has remained due to an introduced engine freeze ceasing development.
The Japanese marque has since powered Max Verstappen and the side to successive title doubles in 2022 and 2023, including a record 21 wins in 22 races last term.
But despite its glittering success with Honda, Red Bull Chief Engineer Paul Monaghan is certain that the team can reach greater heights with complete independence.
“We’re very indebted and very grateful to Honda for everything they’ve done with us but, now we are all under one umbrella,
I think the opportunity to be better merged with the power unit is one that we can’t forget or give up or deny ourselves,” Monaghan told PlanetF1.
“If we want to be as strong as we can be in ’26, we have to make that project work.
“So the challenges are there but, equally, the scope to do, at least, as good a job if not a better one than we’ve enjoyed with Honda is there for us.”
However, Monaghan is aware that attempting to execute the switch whilst also managing a regulation change will be a complication that adds to Red Bull’s challenge.
“If you looked at it as team plus PU supplier – we’re changing PU, aren’t we? – the fact that you throw in a different set of regulations merely adds to the complexity,” he said.
“The work I have seen between the Red Bull chassis side and the Red Bull Powertrain side is as good, if not stronger, than I’ve seen with any of our power unit suppliers.”
The Briton is expecting there to be tough moments ahead and he has conceded that Red Bull will have no room to hide should it be uncompetitive once 2026 arrives.
“I think we will all take it with both hands and it’ll be… it’ll have its troubled days, it will have its good days,” Monaghan expressed.
“That’s our engine for 2026 and I think we can make it work.
“I think the people in the powertrain group are really committed to it, they’re clever people working hard – the ball’s in our court, isn’t it?”
Discussion about this post