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Horner Reflects on Red Bull’s Journey with Honda and Looks Forward to New Era with Ford
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has expressed pride in the team’s successful partnership with Honda, as they prepare to part ways at the end of the 2025 Formula 1 season. The collaboration, which began in 2019, has led to multiple championships, solidifying Honda’s role in Red Bull’s dominance. However, with Honda’s official return to Formula 1 as Aston Martin’s works partner from 2026, Red Bull is preparing for a new chapter with Ford.
Honda initially announced its departure from Formula 1 in 2021, despite continuing to supply Red Bull with power units under a transitional agreement until the end of 2025. The Japanese manufacturer, however, has now committed to returning in 2026, aligning with Aston Martin as the sport embraces new sustainability-driven regulations. Meanwhile, Red Bull has taken a significant step forward by establishing its own powertrains division, in partnership with Ford, to develop its future engines.
Speaking during the Chinese Grand Prix weekend, Horner reflected on Red Bull’s time with Honda, emphasizing the success they have achieved together. “Honda is a fantastic racing organization. Our relationship has been incredibly rewarding since they moved on from McLaren and joined us in 2019,” he said.
Highlighting their shared achievements, he noted, “We have won six world championships together and secured over 60 race victories. This has been Honda’s most successful partnership in Formula 1 history. Their passion and commitment have been exceptional, and their engines have been incredibly strong. I have no doubt they will continue their success with Aston Martin under the new regulations.”
While the departure of Honda marks the end of an era, Horner remains excited about Red Bull’s future. “We will be sad to say goodbye at the end of 2025, but we take great pride in what we have accomplished. Now, we look forward to the next chapter, as we embark on our journey of producing our own power units in Milton Keynes.”
Red Bull Powertrains, the team’s in-house engine project, will not only supply power units for Red Bull’s own cars but also for their sister team, Racing Bulls. This marks a significant challenge, but Horner is confident in the team’s progress.
“They are working incredibly hard behind the scenes in Milton Keynes, putting in long hours to ensure everything is on track,” he explained. “We are making steady progress with our engine development, and with Ford’s support, we are optimistic about the future. In just 12 months, our power units will be used by two Formula 1 teams, which is an enormous challenge, but an exciting one.”
As Red Bull prepares for this transition, their focus remains on maintaining their competitive edge while ensuring that their powertrain project is ready to meet the demands of the new 2026 regulations.
