Red Bull announced in February that it would form its own drive arm, known as Red Bull Powertrains, which would take over the existing Honda engine IP when the Japanese manufacturer exited F1 at the end of the year.
Red Bull plans to produce and develop its own engine for the next generation of engines in 2025 under the direction of technical director Ben Hodgkinson, who will join Mercedes High Performance Powertrains.
Another five Mercedes employees were named as new additions to Red Bull Powertrains on Thursday. Their steps took place against the backdrop of the two teams competing for this year’s World Cup.
Mercedes F1 boss Wolff said he was not frustrated with the move, adding that it was “pretty obvious” where the talent for starting an engine division in the UK would lie.
“If you want to set up an engine factory in the UK, there is only one and that’s us,” Wolff said of Sky Sports F1.
“We have about 900 employees there, and if we fish about 15 of them, that’s pretty normal.
“But they mostly took care of the production staff, so it’s not really an achievement. I think they want to build the company.
“But we thank the project that it is a Mount Everest that you have to climb. I would like to fight with Red Bull engines. “
Wolff also announced that Red Bull “has reached a total of about 100 people and they may have 15”.
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Red Bull consultant Helmut Marko was recently quoted in the German press that Mercedes had doubled the salaries of employees who had refused to move.
When asked if such an offer was the only way to counteract the approaches, Wolff replied, “Doubling salaries is one thing, but if you triple it at a given point in time, you won’t even be competing for loyal people.
“But it is what it is. I respect everyone who wants to defend or build their business, and the time for vengeance has not yet come. “
Red Bull F1 boss Christian Horner said earlier on Friday that it was an “inevitability” that Mercedes employees would be approached given the team’s proximity to his rival’s engine center.
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