With Red Bull Powertrains, Horner wants to put an end to Mercedes engine supremacy
The race for development for the 2022 season has already started, and it is safe to say that the competition will be tough both on the track and in the factories. A new battleground has opened: that of power units. Christian Horner still can't digest the refusal of engine manufacturers to supply Red Bull after Honda's departure and wants to make them pay dearly for this decision.
With the new regulations coming into effect, teams have somewhat focused their efforts on preparing the new generation of single-seaters, scheduled for 2022. It goes without saying that the Red Bull/Mercedes battle is already underway.
Could misfortune be the father of tomorrow’s happiness for Red Bull?
Let us remember, in the midst of the Covid19 crisis, the Honda engine manufacturer, the main partner of the Red Bull team, had announced its withdrawal from Formula 1 at the end of the 2021 season. This news had the effect of a bomb in the world of Formula 1 and put Red Bull and its sister team, AlphaTauri, in an awkward position.
Red Bull desperately – and in vain – sought an engine supplier. But the choice is very limited with 3 suppliers, namely Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault, with whom the team eventually gave in.
Faced with this situation, Red Bull has decided to enter as an engine supplier and break with the customer engine policy. A decision described as courageous but essential given the ambitions of the Milton Keynes team and its long-term commitment to F1.
« We need a competitive engine and this is the best way to get one. It was a bold decision, but that’s Red Bull! » stated Christian Horner when talking about the Red Bull Powertrain project.
With this new direction and the shortage of experienced human resources in the field of power units, the engineer transfer dance has started.
Red Bull has already started fishing at Mercedes: the Austrian team has simply poached Ben Hodgkinson, the former head of the engine department at the Star.
Already a first blow for Mercedes, which could face another one with the possible commitment of Andy Cowell to the Austrian team. His name is circulating in the corridors of the paddock. He was the former head of engine operations at Mercedes.
« Maybe one day they will need an engine from us… »
One thing is certain, Red Bull is determined to put an end to the dominance of the Mercedes engine, one of the biggest factors of success of the Formula 1 world champion car of the last 7 seasons.
« Maybe one day they will need an engine from us… » joked Christian Horner when talking about the episode in which Red Bull was looking for an engine.
On this path, Red Bull wants to become, with Ferrari, the only team to have integrated teams with a power unit department at a single site. Mercedes having teams split between Brackley for the chassis and Brixworth for its V6.
With the Red Bull Powertrain project, the transfer of skills negotiated with Honda before its withdrawal from Formula 1 and the strong pair of drivers that Red Bull has, the battle will be tough in the coming seasons.
