General
Horner opens door for new Honda deal from 2026
Negotiations between Red Bull Racing and Porsche have ceased and so there are opportunities again for other companies to enter into talks with the Austrian racing team. Honda will undoubtedly have followed the developments in recent weeks with great interest. Christian Horner is opening the door for the Japanese manufacturer but a deal is not a foregone conclusion.
Red Bull first of all claims to have several irons in the fire. Helmut Marko indicated that he has been approached by several parties since it was announced that Porsche would not cooperate with Red Bull. However, the Milton Keynes based racing team will only join forces with a party if the complete picture is right and if they keep control of the entire company.
Red Bull fully on schedule
The team of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez is in a position of luxury. They can operate completely independently and do not need direct support from, for example, an engine supplier to stay afloat. With Red Bull Powertrains, Red Bull is independent. In about a year, the Austrians have built a complete engine factory that is already running.
"Our train has left the station for 2026, we have an engine and prototype running, we have all of the dynos commissioned, we’re up and running," Horner told The Race. There is room for another partner, but under the right conditions. Talks are ongoing with Honda about a possible return, but it is difficult to say at this stage how serious that is.
Honda and Red Bull
After last season, Honda decided to leave Formula 1 to focus on the electrification of their products and move away from the internal combustion engine. A return to the pinnacle of motorsport may clash with their own goals, or it may be that Honda will only develop part of the Red Bull engine.
“Whether or not there was any interest potentially on the battery side and any potential synergies there, it could be an interesting discussion," Horner said, suggesting that the electrical part of the engine might be outsourced to another party. In any case, Red Bull Powertrains will develop the combustion and mechanical side of the engine in Milton Keynes.
