Red Bull's Bold Move: Christian Horner on the 2026 F1 Engine Revolution

As the new Formula 1 season kicks off in Australia, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is gearing up for a dual challenge. Not only is he focused on maintaining the team's dominance in the sport, which has seen Max Verstappen secure four consecutive drivers' titles, but he is also overseeing a significant shift in Red Bull's approach to engine production.

With their partnership with Honda coming to an end this season, Red Bull is bringing engine construction in-house at their Milton Keynes headquarters. This move is in preparation for the new F1 regulations set to take effect in 2026. Horner describes this as the team's "biggest challenge" yet, emphasizing the complexity and ambition of the project.

"For me, this next chapter is truly exciting. It's by far our biggest challenge, not for the weak-hearted. It's going to be an epic journey, and one I'm relishing and looking forward to," Horner told BBC Look East before departing for Melbourne. "We've had tremendous success designing and manufacturing our own chassis and working with different engine suppliers, with Renault and latterly Honda, but it felt this was the right time with this new set of engine regulations (for 2026) to take control of our own destiny and hand-build our own engine."

The 2026 F1 cars will be 30kg lighter, 10cm narrower, and will use fully sustainable fuels with hybrid engines combining electric and internal combustion power. These changes have sparked mixed reactions among drivers, with some expressing concerns about the impact on the sport's excitement.

Red Bull's decision to bring engine production in-house is a strategic move to ensure they remain competitive and independent in the face of evolving regulations. The team has also announced a new partnership with Ford to assist in engine development, marking Ford's return to F1 since 2004.

Horner believes the 2026 changes will represent a "seismic shift" for F1, describing it as a "complete re-set." He emphasized the importance of the team's long-term commitment to the sport and their determination to control their own destiny.

"There's an awful lot riding on it, and to expect us to go out there and exceed the performance levels of our competitors would be somewhat naive," Horner said. "This is a long-term commitment to this team, to Formula 1, to ensure we've got control of our own destiny, so if a manufacturer decides to leave the sport, then we're not beholden to that."

As Red Bull prepares for the 2025 season, with a packed calendar of 24 races, the team is also making changes behind the wheel. New Zealander Liam Lawson, 23, will replace Sergio Perez as Max Verstappen's teammate. Horner expressed confidence in Lawson's abilities, describing him as a "quick driver" and a "fast learner."

Despite the challenges ahead, Horner remains optimistic about Red Bull's prospects. "This team is full of motivation for the season ahead. We don't underestimate the level of competition there will be from McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes, and who knows who else," he said. "But there's a real resoluteness within this team to go out there and try and retain that number one on the car in the final year of this current set of regulations."