F1: Red Bull convinced doing their own Power Unit the right decision

Red Bull is convinced that by doing their own Power Units in-house they will not be dependent on a big car manufacturer when the day comes they decide to leave the sport, leaving the team in a lurch.

The project started when Honda announced it would pull out of the sport at the end of 2020. Red Bull has been using Honda power since 2019. As a result of this announcement, they needed a permanent solution to their power unit dependency on other companies.

Honda F1 Managing Director Masashi Yamamoto. Since announcing its withdrawal from F1 after 2025, Honda is now looking to get back in.

Toto Wolff has made the case that Andretti Global (or any non-car manufacturer entry) should not be allowed an entry into F1 unless they bring a new car manufacturer in with them to supply Power Units.

The argument Wolff makes, and it is a valid one in some respects, is that a large car manufacturer will spend large sums of money in all the markets F1 races promoting their brand and their team. They have deep pockets to spend in F1 besides just being an engine supplier.

However, a team is then beholden to the car manufacturer, and when the bean counters in the front office decide they can no longer afford F1 and pull the plug, the team is left to scramble for a replacement.

Speaking to the media, Red Bull driver and defending World Champion, Max Verstappen applauded the team for its new in-house project. When asked if he had visited the new factory, he replied:

“I’ve not been there yet. I’ve seen a few people around, and of course, I hear all the stories from Christian [Horner] and Helmut [Marko] as well. It’s pretty impressive what they’re doing there at the moment, and what’s to come. I was already speaking to Christian last time I was at the factory that next time I am there, we will head over and see what’s what’s going on. We’re so limited on time when I get there, it’s just simulator the whole day or even after that, some media commitments as well. So I’ve just never really had the time to travel there, but next time I do the simulator session, I’ll shorten that a bit and go over.”

He also added that it is better to wait and see till 2026 before forming any opinion on how the team will perform with its own power units. He said,

“We still have to wait and see until 2026 to see how it’s going to go, but everyone is very positive and motivated.”

Red Bull has Poached Mercedes’ top Engine Personnel

And make no mistake about it, Red Bull has the right people in place to do the power units in-house, and be right on pace from the outset in 2026.

Red Bull poached Mercedes top engine man Ben Hodgkinson after a protracted legal tussle and is now fully employed working on Red Bull’s new Power Unit.

A short joint statement back in January said: “Mercedes F1 and Red Bull F1 today reached an agreement regarding the appointment of Ben Hodgkinson.

“Under the terms of that agreement, Ben, who joined Mercedes in August 2001, will be free to join Red Bull Powertrains from May 24, 2022.”

Ben Hodgkinson brings all of Mercedes power unit secrets to Red Bull F1

But that is now where it ends. Red Bull has poached other key Mercedes engineers.

Mercedes’ head of manufacturing Steve Blewett will become Red Bull’s power unit production director.

Omid Mostaghimi, who is Mercedes’ F1 electronics team leader, will be Red Bull’s head of powertrains, electronics and ERS.

Pip Clode, who is Mercedes’ F1 power unit concept team leader, will become Red Bull’s head of mechanical design ERS.

Anton Mayo, a Mercedes engineering team leader, will be head of power unit design ICE, while Steve Brodie, Mercedes’ F1 trackside and final inspection manager, will become Red Bull’s group leader of ICE operations.