Horner wants to be patient during 2026 talks: "Must take time"

It's still a long way off, but teams in F1 are already worrying about the engines beyond 2025. While the new generation of F1 cars will only hit the track from next year onwards, people like Christian Horner are already working in the background on 2026.

Why? Because a new engine rulebook will be introduced in 2026, so a lot is going to change. Initially, this was supposed to happen in 2025, but now it has to happen in 2026. Saturday there was an important meeting about this, with besides Porsche and Audi also Red Bull present. This of course because the team of Max Verstappen will be in charge of the power unit from next year. Horner thinks this is an important moment for the sport. This he says in conversation with Motorsport.com.

"We have to come up with something relevant and something that is good for the sport. Of course, it's not just about the engine, it has to be integrated into a car with low drag to achieve such efficiency. So it also has a huge impact on the chassis. That's why I think it would be absolutely right for Formula 1 to start with a clean slate in 2026."

Horner wants patience to be maintained

Because making decisions too hastily can have long-lasting consequences for the sport, according to Horner. "Once the engine is introduced, we will continue to use it for the next ten years. I'd rather see us take the time to come up with something exciting, innovative and relevant that fits the criteria for cost, performance and encouraging close racing."

"It would be a real shame to move on from what is now a very expensive engine and try to make it cheap. You can't just buy an economy ticket and still fly business class. Hopefully, there is an opportunity - especially if it is for 2026 - to come up with an engine that is sustainable, environmentally friendly, that uses biofuel, that hopefully comes more from a blank sheet, possibly with standardisation elements where the cost can be clearly controlled, rather than building on what we have now," the Red Bull team boss said.

According to Horner, this is also better for manufacturers such as Audio and Porsche, who have an interest in Formula One. "A new entrant manufacturer would like to start with a blank sheet, it seems to me," concludes the Brit.