Marko on 'tense situation' with Honda: 'A decision will be made soon'

Honda has signed up as an engine manufacturer in Formula 1 for 2026, but now the Japanese brand has yet to find a team. Helmut Marko reveals that Red Bull Racing has not yet made a final decision on a possible partnership, but talks between the two are not easy.

After Honda left Formula 1 at the end of 2021, the Japanese brand is now more closely involved with Red Bull again. Honda will supply power units to Max Verstappen's team until the end of 2025, but what the cooperation between the two companies will look like from 2026 is not yet known. Speaking to Auto, Motor und Sport Marko tells more about the current situation.

"It is a tense situation that has a history. When Honda announced its withdrawal two years ago, we had had nothing at all in the first phase. Honda didn't even want to supply the existing engine. We could gradually turn that into a cooperation as we see it now," the Red Bull adviser begins.

To secure Red Bull's future, the team has set up its own factory for the engines under the name Red Bull Powertrains. Honda has the same facilities in Sakura. "When it had to be decided who would do what from 2026, it became difficult. It was planned that Honda would only do the electrical part, but let's see what happens. A decision will be made soon," Marko continues. Red Bull wants to take full ownership of the engine production itself.

Honda must look for top team

Marko doesn't want to say anything about other possible partners for Red Bull. According to the latest rumours, Ford and Alfa Romeo are still options for the Milton Keynes-based racing team. According to Marko, Honda needs a top team if it wants to join the sport in 2026. AlphaTauri is not an option because the sister team would then be disconnected from Red Bull and that is not the intention. "When I ask around, every engine manufacturer, from Audi to Renault, wants a second team. That does not leave much for Honda," concludes the Austrian.