Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko clapped back at team principal and CEO Christian Horner's comments regarding their progress in the powertrains for the 2026 season. The Austrian team will become an OEM for the first time in their history and will manufacture their power units in their Milton Keynes base ahead of the new engine regulations next year.
There has been minimal information regarding their engine progress, with many believing that they might be behind the likes of Mercedes and Honda next year. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, too, was cautious in hyping the powertrain project in his recent comments when he spoke about their rivals' experience in developing engines.
However, his comments did not sit well with Marko, who told OE24 that Horner was telling a different story within the team, saying:
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“I was also surprised when I read that. Internally, he speaks differently. We are within the limits with our engine and believe that we currently have no significant disadvantage.”
“The other manufacturers also have to build completely new engines for next year. We have experienced people, and we have poached a large number of them from established companies. I don’t hope that one of the engine manufacturers will be as superior as Mercedes was in 2014.”
Red Bull has won championships racing with Renault and Honda engines in their time in F1. However, they decided to manufacture their engines after Honda pulled out of the sport at the end of the 2021 season, leaving the Austrian team without a power unit supplier.
While the Japanese giant helped them for the next four years, they made a U-turn on their exit from F1 and returned to become exclusive power unit suppliers to Aston Martin.
Red Bull team boss comments on their powertrain project
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner stated that as an OEM, they would have to earn their stripes while competing against experienced rivals.
Speaking with Sports Bild, the 51-year-old reflected on the 2026 season and said:
"It would be arrogant of us to think that we could immediately surpass our competitors. Ferrari have been active in this field for 75 years, Mercedes for about 25 years. Audi and Honda have also built some of the world's best engines in different branches of motorsport. We need to earn our stripes first. Next year is a fresh start,"
Over the last 18 months, there have been several instances when Christian Horner and Helmut Marko have been at odds with each other and have dished out varying comments on similar subjects.
The Austrian has been critical of Red Bull's slump since the middle of the 2024 season, which cost them the Constructors' Championship and almost cost Max Verstappen a driver's title as well.
