Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull in F1, has admitted the need to “recover ground” against Ferrari (and others) in view of 2026.
The Ferrari 2026 Power Unit frightens Red Bull, forced to chase towards the anticipated technical revolution in F1. This is what emerges from the statements of Christian Horner, the principal of Milton Keynes, interviewed by PlanetF1. The Austrian team will bring in-house produced engines, in collaboration with Ford, and branded as Red Bull Powertrains. An ambitious goal, to be achieved in not-so-distant times.
While the 2024 World Championship has yet to begin, thoughts are already turning to 2026. The news that has shaken Formula 1 is that Ferrari, according to rumors from Maranello, would have already produced and tested the first prototype of the new Power Unit. Although not confirmed, this would certainly be a good omen for the Scuderia and, at the same time, a warning for rivals.
Red Bull will face a significant challenge. Producing reliable and high-performance Power Units is not simple; even major manufacturers with years of experience are at risk of making mistakes. Renault is a glaring example, but no one forgets 2014 when the only brand to fully get the project right was Mercedes.
“We are busy; there are only 24 months until we mount the engine on the RB22,” said Christian Horner to PlanetF1. “It’s not a very long time in the world of Power Units; there is still a lot of work to do in a very short time. But I have confidence in our staff; we can do it.”
Commenting on the alleged progress made by Ferrari, the Englishman remains composed: “I won’t explain our current state in detail, but we are on the right track; we still have a lot to do, and we have a lot of ground to recover. We compete against companies with decades of experience. For Red Bull, only 30 months ago, this project was in its embryonic state. What we have done so far is exceptional.” – he pointed out.
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In any case, there is no Plan B for Red Bull: if the new engines are not competitive from 2026, there could be consequences, even related to Max Verstappen’s stay in the team: “It’s not just a matter of what Max would do,” explains Christian Horner. “In Formula 1, we are all impatient. It’s a courageous endeavor we have undertaken, but we believe it’s the right path.” – the Red Bull team principal concluded.
Source: f1ingenerale
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