Red Bull boss Christian Horner has claimed his team’s fledgling Formula 1 powertrains division has been bolstered by “over 200” signings from rivals Mercedes.
Mercedes has long been seen as the leading marque in F1 engine building since hybrid powertrains were introduced in 2014.
In 2026, the engine regulations will focus even more on electrification through a 50/50 split in power delivery through hybrid powertrains.
That coincides with Red Bull debuting its own power unit and Horner has revealed a large number of former Mercedes staff have made the jump to Milton Keynes.
“We’ve recruited, I think, close to 250 people during the last 12 months, across the project, into powertrains, into the brand new engine shop that we’re building,” Horner told British broadcaster Channel 4.
“We don’t talk about the over 200 people we brought from Mercedes.
“There’s a lot of focus on the two people that are leaving, because they’re slightly more public facing.”
The two key figures departing Red Bull are none other than Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley.
Newey, part of the Red Bull family since 2006, announced back in March that he’d be departing the Milton Keynes-based F1 outfit and has since signed with Aston Martin for 2025 and beyond.
This summer, long-serving Sporting Director Wheatley was revealed as Sauber/Audi’s new Team Principal for 2025.
READ MORE: Audi confirms Wheatley to arrive as F1 team boss by ‘2025 at the latest’
Red Bull can keep fighting the likes of Mercedes amid key departures
Still, Horner is adamant that Red Bull can take the fight to Mercedes and its other rivals through “strength in depth.”
“Well look, starting with Adrian, we had an amazing run with Adrian,” Horner said.
“He’s been a big part of everything we’ve done, and we’ll look back with great fondness and pride in everything that we achieved collectively.
“But he’s chosen to take on a new challenge. We knew that was coming. We’ve sort of been gearing up for that.
“Adrian has been on the brink of retiring for 10 years, and so we had to be prepared for that, and I believe we have got strength in depth.
“He’s chosen to continue and continue elsewhere.
“And of course, Jonathan likewise, a long-term team member. But they’re two higher profile names.
“The reality is that’s just two people out of 2000 people that we have within the group.”
As it stands, Red Bull is amid a winless run of eight races and has relinquished the lead of the Constructors’ Championship to McLaren.
Red Bull’s star driver Max Verstappen, who has often been the subject of a potential switch to Mercedes, leads the Drivers’ standings by 331 to 279 points over McLaren’s Lando Norris.
READ MORE: Adrian Newey tipped to be F1 ‘gamechanger’ for Aston Martin
