Christian Horner indicates that Red Bull-Ford is considering supplying power units to other teams in the future, but that their current priority is optimizing the performance of Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri. The company’s headquarters in Milton Keynes are currently working to supply engines to a total of four Formula 1 teams.
In early 2023, it was announced that Red Bull and AlphaTauri would enter into a partnership with Ford from the 2026 Formula 1 season. From that moment on, the American company will provide branding for the Red Bull Powertrains power unit. In addition, there will be close cooperation on both commercial and technical levels. All developments will take place in our own factory, which ensures optimal coordination of all aspects. It appears that several other Formula 1 teams are interested in acquiring the power unit of this new combination. McLaren CEO Zak Brown has already visited Milton Keynes.
However, Horner wants to take everything step by step, because he first wants to get things in order before the Austrian racing team starts looking at customer teams. ‘It is important that the simple tasks are done properly first, and then the difficult ones. In my opinion it makes perfect sense that we will first do the two teams of the same owner,” says Horner at PlanetF1. ‘We are an independent engine manufacturer with a good relationship with Ford. There are certainly benefits in the long run. If we become attractive to other teams, we are open to supplying engines.’
Red Bull-Ford refers to ‘approximately four teams’
After all, teams and customer teams are very common in Formula 1. Mercedes supplies engines to Williams, Aston Martin, and McLaren. Ferrari supplies engines to Haas and Alfa Romeo. This provides financial benefits and allows the engine to be tested more effectively. ‘Our facility is set up for about four teams. That’s what we’re looking at in the long term. However, I think we need to establish our own teams first, so that a group of people can work well with the chassis department. Then it becomes collective. It is a very large undertaking, but we are making great strides forward,” said Horner.
