Red Bull and Posh have long hoped to partner in 2026, but Christian Horner says being an independent team is part of the DNA of “who we are”; Watch the Italian GP live on Sky Sports F1 this weekend, with Sunday’s race at 2pm
Last Updated: 08/09/22 11:54 am
Red Bull boss Christian Horner has hinted at stumbling into a bumper deal with Porsche, insisting that the link-up would only be agreed upon on Formula 1 team’s terms and that it would fit into their racing “DNA”. Will happen.
Red Bull and Porsche have long been touted to partner for 2026 to tie in with new engine regulations – with sister Volkswagen brand Audi already confirmed to be joining F1 – and German manufacturing The giant was expected to assist with the new Red Bull powertrain project. ,
But a Porsche deal is now in considerable doubt as Red Bull appears determined to maintain its independence, while Honda has also been mooted for considering an F1 U-turn and returning to the involvement of current title leaders.
“As I have consistently said, we are continuing with the Red Bull powertrain and it is making great progress with the first engine firing a couple of weeks ago,” Horner told Sky Sports F1.
“2026 is a long way off and we are very focused on our plan on the engine we are producing and the talent we are bringing to our team.
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Audi board chairman Markus Duesmann announced that the German car company has officially registered as a power-unit manufacturer in F1.
“It’s great to see Audi come into play but any relationship with any manufacturer or partner has to fit with Red Bull.”
Asked about independence, the Red Bull team principal said: “Red Bull has always been an independent team, it has been our strength and it is the backbone of what we have achieved and our ability to move forward rapidly.
“It’s part of the DNA of who we are.
“We are not a corporately driven organization and this is one of our strengths in how we operate as a race team and this is an absolute pre-requisite for the future.
“They need to decide whether they want to attend that party or not, but it has to be within the culture of the way racing is done.”
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Ferrari drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc say it feels ‘special’ to drive for the team at Monza in preparation for the weekend’s Italian Grand Prix.
Horner has not outright ruled out a link-up, stating that “time will tell if we embrace a participant in that program” – although Honda is believed to have also been involved in an F1 U-turn. About “making noise”.
Honda still supplies engines to Red Bull, even though it officially left F1 last year, and is believed to have expressed interest in a new project with Red Bull post 2025.
“They are making noise about 2026 but obviously our train has left the station and we have committed to investing in Red Bull Power trains.
“About 300 people are now working on that 2026 engine, so any agreement would need to fit with that.
“The whole team is under one roof and the advantage of this is with the chassis designers sitting next to the engine designers.”