Column | Red Bull's strong engine aims

Upon Honda’s exit announcement at the end of 2021, Red Bull Racing were left to quickly court options for their power unit into their future. Since then, the team has made significant moves to support their future stability in engines. Take a look at this recap, and see what it means for the future.

Currently

For months after Honda’s announcement of their planned exit in 2021, Red Bull Racing has tried to negotiate with the FIA and other teams for the engine freeze to begin in 2023 (two years before the regulation changes in 2025). Once the agreement was settled, Honda announced the transferral of intellectual property related to the engine to the team.

Honda will hope to see out a successful 2021 by providing a strong engine to the Red Bull team and support their aims to challenge for both the drivers' and constructors' titles.

Facility & signings

Red Bull Racing announced the construction of an engine development facility in “Factory 8” of their Milton Keynes base. This would allow the team to have their own area to focus entirely on the development of the engine, with easy access to other departments and rapid communication about the progress of development.

Recently, Red Bull confirmed the signing of Ben Hodgkinson, current head of mechanical engineering for Mercedes, to be the technical director for Red Bull Powertrains. His 20 years of experience and knowledge garnered in Mercedes would be priceless, as the Milton Keynes team requires a steady pair of hands to help push the team in their new era. One could assume that with this signing, Red Bull would also be rapidly informed of other talents who are eager to be signed onto the new and exciting venture.

What does this mean? 

This is a very confident move by the team. It was incredible to see how rapidly Red Bull not only acquired the intellectual property but also got the vote to pass the FIA and teams. It also helps take their performance into their own hands, with less dependence on external suppliers. One needs only to look into 2018 to see the messy Renault & Red Bull divorce.

It will undoubtedly bolster the confidence of the team. For the first time, they’ll become a works team, with every part manufactured by themselves. Development will be taken into their own hands, and the engine can be designed to work smoother with the chassis and aero designs of the car. The downside of this is, Red Bull would be left bare, unable to avoid or shift blame if a poor performance occurs. And (if reports of particular exit clauses relating to engine performance are correct), Red Bull would need to perform well, else they lose their star driver, Max Verstappen.

This is a move to not only solidify Red Bull’s continued participation in the championship but to solidify further opportunities at having a crack at the world titles.