Red Bull Racing will be without an engine supplier at the end of 2021 and although that will take some time, the team will have to look for an alternative. The most practical seems to be taking over the Honda engine and developing it themselves, as they will then have a direct influence on the power source. Another option is to approach one of the other engine suppliers, but that seems to be a step backwards.

Development stop on power sources

Earlier Red Bull Racing hinted that they would like to see a development stop on the power sources. The current set-up is so complex and expensive that it prevents external manufacturers from entering Formula 1 . But it would also be quite a challenge for Red Bull Racing if they were to produce the engine in-house.

In conversation with Auto, Motor und Sport , Helmut Marko has indicated that keeping the Honda engine in-house is their preference. After all, this is the only way to maintain their independence, but this costs a lot of money and it only works if the engine rules are frozen. According to AMuS, with one permitted upgrade per year, one would already be at the technical limit.

This places Red Bull Racing with a difficult task, because there are so many factors involved. If Red Bull Racing does indeed continue with the Honda engine under its own management, they will retain some form of independence. Something the team wants, AMuS notes. The team has also made this known to those responsible within Formula 1, but with an ultimatum.

Two choices

Either engine development will be frozen from 2022 or Red Bull will leave Formula 1 with two teams. If the latter becomes reality, then Formula 1 will have a problem. They will then miss four cars, leaving only sixteen, which can again cause hassle contractually with broadcasting rights and race promoters. That will not be a desirable scenario at all.

Mercedes is said to see something in Red Bull's proposal, Renault will go along with it, provided there is prior engine harmonization. Ferrari, on the other hand, is opposed to this, because they claim that Red Bull is not in an emergency situation. They can come to Paris (Renault) or Maranello (Ferrari) for an engine at any time. Ferrari adds as an additional reason that it would be more advantageous for the team than if they started to develop the engine themselves.