'Guenther Steiner blamed as Red Bull reportedly makes shock KTM exit'
Steiner's management has baffled Vinales (Red Bull Content Pool)
Connor Andrews is Formula 1 and MotoGP writer for GPblog and various outlets. Having worked in motorsport for 15 years for leading companies, he has interviewed the sports biggest names and attended multiple Grands Prix.
A surprise report has claimed that energy drink giant Red Bull is ditching KTM for Honda in 2027, with Guenter Steiner partly to blame.
Energy drinks take up many of the major sponsorship spots in MotoGP, with Red Bull and Monster competing for the most camera time, benefiting teams’ bank accounts massively.
The Austrian brand became closely linked with Honda in 2015 when it purchased 30 per cent of the advertising space on Marc Marquez’s bike, and it stayed there until the end of 2023.
However, when Marquez moved to Gresini Ducati in 2024, Red Bull also left Honda, but unlike Marquez, it chose its fellow Austrian brand, KTM.
Red Bull became closely associated with Marquez (Credit: Red Bull Content Pool)
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Red Bull reportedly agrees Honda return for 2027
Yet Red Bull will now be heading back to Honda, signing a deal for 2027 and 2028, according to leading Italian outlet GPOne.
What makes the report even more incredible is that it cites Red Bull’s relationship with Guenter Steiner as one of the reasons for the swap.
Steiner is the CEO of KTM satellite team Tech3, which relies heavily on Red Bull sponsorship.
But GPOne claim Steiner ‘is not held in high regard at Red Bull due to his experience with Red Bull Racing in Formula 1 and NASCAR’.
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The Italian worked for Red Bull Racing in Formula 1 from 2005 to 2008, but is best known in F1 for his time as Haas’ team principal from 2014 to 2023.
Honda's bike looks unrecognisable without Red Bull or Repsol (Credit: Red Bull Content Pool)
Marquez reunion considered before Honda agreement
They add that Red Bull also considered a reunion with Marquez at Ducati, but the Italian team instead opted to renew their partnership with Monster.
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Furthermore, Honda’s exciting 2027 line-up is also said to be a cause for a return to the Japanese brand.
Since Marquez’s departure, Honda has had the underwhelming duo of Joan Mir and Luca Marini, and even lost lead sponsor Repsol as a result.
Next year, they’ll have the star power of Frenchman Fabio Quartararo, who will likely be partnered by reigning Moto2 champion Diogo Moreira, bringing the South American market into play as he’s from Brazil.
MotoGP sponsorship landscape set for major shake-up
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It’s further reported that Monster will be a title sponsor of Aprilia for 2027, moving over from Yamaha.
Yamaha are now on the lookout for a new lead sponsor, having had Monster in that role since 2019 when it took over from Movistar.
The Japanese brand is said to have made a move for Red Bull, but found they were already in advanced negotiations with Honda for 2027.
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