Red Bull Racing is preparing to part ways with its long-time partner Honda as the new technical regulations for 2026 approach. Team principal Christian Horner shared his thoughts on this transition, emphasizing that they will look back on their collaboration with great pride.
Honda had initially decided to withdraw from Formula 1, prompting Red Bull to seek a new engine supplier. As a result, the team partnered with Ford and established Red Bull Powertrains. However, Honda later reversed its decision and signed a deal with Aston Martin, effective from 2026. As a tribute to their successful partnership, Red Bull will race with a special livery at the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix.
Speaking to the media during the Chinese Grand Prix weekend, Christian Horner expressed his gratitude for their collaboration with Honda.
“Honda is a remarkable racing organization. After parting ways with McLaren, they joined us in 2019, and since then, we have built a fantastic relationship,” Horner said, acknowledging the invaluable contributions of the Japanese manufacturer.
“Together, we have won six world championships and over 60 races. Honda’s most successful period in Formula 1 was with us.”
Praising Honda’s passion and commitment to engine development, Horner highlighted that the Japanese manufacturer will now embark on a new journey with Aston Martin and will likely continue producing competitive power units.
“It will be sad to say goodbye at the end of the season, but we will look back on this era with immense pride. What excites us most now is the new chapter ahead, where we will manufacture our own engine at our Milton Keynes facility.”
From the 2026 season onwards, Red Bull is set to develop its own engines. In February, Horner provided an update on the progress of Red Bull Powertrains.
“Everything is on track. Behind the scenes at Milton Keynes, long hours are being put in, and we are making solid progress in engine development.”
Horner emphasized that within the next year, their power unit will be supplying two Formula 1 teams, underlining the complexity and challenges of this ambitious project.
“Just four years ago, this was a brand-new company built from scratch. Now, we have a fully operational factory equipped with state-of-the-art machinery and a dedicated team working at full capacity.
This is truly an exciting time. The team is filled with energy, and there is a mix of anticipation and nervous excitement as we move forward.”
As Red Bull moves on from its partnership with Honda, it is stepping into a new era in Formula 1. With its own power unit program in full swing, the team is gearing up for an even more competitive 2026 season.