Christian Horner unveils Red Bull’s plans to empower rival teams with their Ford Powertrains

Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner recently shed light on the possibility of Red Bull Powertrains supplying their engines to customer teams. This will be done in collaboration with Ford. Horner acknowledged that several teams have expressed interest in their engines. However, he emphasized the need to establish their operations first.

With the current cost cap constraint, Christian Horner emphasized the advantage of being able to shape their business according to the cap. It was unlike the challenges they faced with the chassis. In an interview, the Red Bull boss explained, “Unlike the chassis where we’ve had to come on a blind slope down, this way, we’ve been able to shape the business to what the cap is.”

Horner disclosed that their primary focus would be to support the two Red Bull-owned teams. While at least two more teams have expressed interest, Red Bull Powertrains is not yet ready to take on more. Horner explained, “I think initially [we will supply] just two [teams] because, as a start-up, as a brand new engine manufacturer, I think it would be overstretching ourselves if we went beyond that.”

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Christian Horner says the Red Bull family comes first

Christian Horner expressed their priority of catering to the two Red Bull teams. While others like McLaren have approached, they are focused on the Red Bull family. However, Horner assured that they do have the capacity to accommodate more teams in the future.

The Red Bull boss stated, “We have a capacity to take on extra teams should we want to in future years, but probably for the first couple of years, we want to focus on just the Red Bull-owned teams as we establish the business, the trackside operations, all the things of supplying and delivering engines in a competitive environment.”

The collaboration between Red Bull and Ford signifies Ford’s return to Formula One. Together, they will develop next-generation hybrid power unit engines. This partnership encompasses engine development and expertise in battery cells. It includes electric motor technology, power unit management software and analytics, and combustion engine advancement.

F1 undergoes a massive overhaul with the regulations in 2026

The upcoming 2026 F1 season will introduce new engine regulations. While maintaining the V6 internal combustion engine layout, these regulations will increase electrical power and promote the use of 100% sustainable fuels. These changes aim to attract new entries to the sport and foster road relevance.

Notably, the MGU-K (Kinetic Motor Generator Unit) will significantly boost hybrid components’ electrical power. The fuel usage during a Grand Prix will be limited to 70kg per car.

Although Red Bull Powertrains may potentially supply engines to customer teams, Christian Horner emphasized their current focus on the Red Bull-owned teams and the establishment of a competitive engine supply operation. Horner highlighted the importance of consolidating their position in the sport first.

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