Red Bull becomes F1 engine builder

It’s a very carefully considered tactical move on part of Red Bull. Taken heavily into consideration for this move was the fact that engine development is to be frozen from 2022 onwards. The FIA announced the decision on the freeze last Friday.

“We have been discussing this topic with Honda for some time and following the FIA’s decision to freeze power unit development from 2022, we could at last reach an agreement regarding the continued use of Honda’s hybrid power units,” said Red Bull Motorsport Advisor Helmut Marko.

"The establishment of Red Bull Powertrains Limited is a bold move by Red Bull but it is one we have made after careful and detailed consideration.”

Honda famously re-joined F1 as a power unit supplier in 2015, with the ill-fated McLaren efforts. When McLaren dropped Honda power in favour of Renault in 2017, Red Bull took them on in 2019, with promise shown near enough from the off. 

The partnership has since yielded five victories and an all-round competitive performance elsewhere. With development frozen in 2022, Red Bull will essentially be taking on a competitive well-developed turn-key power unit that’s good until the end of 2024. Whether Red Bull Powertrains Limited will be handling the new power units in 2025 and beyond remains to be seen, though it is an option that’s being considered.

“This agreement represents a significant step for Red Bull in its Formula 1 journey,” said Red Bull boss Christian Horner.

“Honda has invested significantly in hybrid technology to ensure the supply of competitive power units to both teams. We were understandably disappointed when Honda made the decision to leave the sport as an engine manufacturer, as our relationship yielded immediate success, but we are grateful for their support in facilitating this new agreement.”

Images courtesy of Motorsport Images.