Red Bull Racing will take over production of Honda’s Formula 1 engine when the manufacturer retires from the sport at the end of this season. To carry out the project, a new company called Red Bull Powertrains Limited was formed. The new division will be housed and operated in Red Bull Racing’s F1 team base on the Red Bull Technology Campus in Milton Keynes, UK.
According to Red Bull, the new company will not only be responsible for continuing the current Honda engine project, but will also work on developing a new engine design for launch in 2025.
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Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, Dr. Helmut Marko said: “We have been discussing this topic with Honda for some time. After the FIA’s decision to freeze engine development from 2022, we were finally able to reach an agreement on the continued use of Honda’s hybrid power units. We are grateful for Honda’s collaboration in this regard and for the fact that both Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri continue to have competitive engines.
“The establishment of Red Bull Powertrains Limited is a bold move by Red Bull, but one that we took after careful and detailed examination. We are aware of the tremendous commitment, but we believe that starting this new company is the most competitive option for both teams. “
The team already has considerable in-house capabilities, including various advanced dynos for full chassis testing, and it appears they will also take over Honda’s dyno facilities, also located in Milton Keynes.
Team boss Christian Horner explained: “This agreement is an important step for Red Bull on its Formula 1 journey. We were understandably disappointed when Honda made the decision to leave the sport as an engine manufacturer as our relationship was instant success, but we are grateful for their support in facilitating this new agreement.
“Honda has invested heavily in hybrid technology to ensure that both teams get competitive engines. We are now starting to integrate the Power Unit business area internally and to integrate the new facilities and employees into our technology campus. “
Horner confirmed that the team will also work with the Austrian supplier AVL, which has extensive experience in developing modern F1 engines and hybrid systems. It remains to be seen who will run the new operation as technical director.
Andy Cowell, one of the architects of the successful Mercedes program, was proposed as a candidate after leaving the German manufacturer last year. Horner rejected such speculation, however, and Cowell said he was looking for challenges outside of motorsport. Mario Illien is also in the frame after working with Honda.
Honda will continue its development program through 2021 in order to offer Red Bull the most competitive package possible. From 2022, however, the unit will be branded as Red Bull. The team will not seek a branding partnership like it did when Renault units were operated with the Tag Heuer logo. After @ HondaRacingF1 has withdrawn from # F1, @redbullracing will in future take over engine production and build its own units
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