Helmut Marko admits Red Bull has no backup from Honda if the Ford Powertrains deal falls apart

Red Bull will build its own power units with Ford for 2026.

Helmut Marko admits Red Bull has no backup from Honda if the Ford Powertrains deal falls apart

Dr. Helmut Marko, Max Verstappen and Christian Horner (Via: IMAGO)

Red Bull’s partnership with Honda for F1 power units will come to an end after 2025. The Austrian team will run its own power units under the Red Bull Ford Powertrains name from 2026. However, there are concerns that Milton Keynes’ efforts might not meet expectations. Now, Dr. Helmut Marko has made it clear that the team will not have any option to call up its former partner in case of a failure.

Marko revealed that Red Bull’s power unit division was on the right path. The 80-year-old mentioned that there was still a couple of years before the new power units were used in F1, The development was meeting the team’s performance targets. American carmaker Ford is contributing to this project in a new partnership with Milton Keynes.

Even though we are still a long way from competitive use, everything is going according to plan and the performance curve is right.
Helmut Marko told OE24

Helmut Marko was asked if Red Bull had Honda as a potential ‘Plan B’ in 2026. Perhaps an arrangement that would allow Milton Keynes to use Honda power units if its own project wasn’t successful. Marko made it clear that Red Bull powertrains will have to work as the Austrian team would have no such option available.

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No, it has to work. From 2026, we will be racing with our own engine.

Max Verstappen reveals Red Bull’s expectations for 2026 power units

Red Bull has invested millions of dollars into its new powertrains division. The Milton Keynes-based team aims to become fully independent in Formula 1 without having to rely on a manufacturer. However, it is an ambitious task. Max Verstappen admitted that the squad was working extensively in preparation for the 2026 regulations.

Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen (via IMAGO)

The three-time world champion mentioned that Red Bull didn’t want to start the 2026 season in the wrong direction with its power units. Verstappen claimed that Milton Keynes hoped to have a rocket ship with the new regulations. However, only time will tell if the Austrian team is successful with its in-house power units.

We don’t want to be caught on the wrong foot in 2026. We all hope it will be a rocket. We will see.
Max Verstappen told Blick

Certainly, Milton Keynes has established itself as a top team in F1. The Austrian team has always had some of the best chassis on the grid. However, the power units have compromised the team’s efforts in the past. As such Red Bull Ford Powertrains opens the door for the Austrian team to take the entire development into its own hands

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