Formula 1 champion Mercedes has agreed to let engine expert Ben Hodgkinson switch to competitor Red Bull in May, they announced on Friday. The signing was announced by Red Bull last April, with no start date set.
The head of mechanical engineering at Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP) becomes technical head of Red Bull’s own engine company. Red Bull won this year’s Drivers’ Championship with Max Verstappen, while Mercedes has been the Constructors’ Championship since the V6 Turbo Hybrid era began in 2014.
Red Bull launched their own powertrain company in late 2021, following the departure of engine supplier Honda, whose intellectual property was acquired by the team. “Mercedes F1 and Red Bull today reached an agreement on the appointment of Ben Hodgkinson,” Mercedes said in a statement.
“Under this agreement, Ben, who joined Mercedes in August 2001, is free to join Red Bull Powertrains effective May 24, 2022.” The move comes after Red Bull agreed to hire its chief aerodynamics engineer, Dan Fallows, to move to the Mercedes-powered Aston Martin as technical director in April. This signing was first announced last June.
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