Red Bull changed the F1 engine name for 2023 to “Honda RBPT”. The Honda name has been revived. This seems to be related to the development of the next generation F1 power unit to be introduced in 2026.
From the 2023 F1 season, a budget cap will also be introduced for the development cost of F1 power units. These apply to the new F1 power unit introduced in 2026.
The budget cap will be set at $95 million for the period 2023-2025 and $130 million after 2026.
The F1 power unit budget cap does not include costs associated with the current power unit, which has been frozen for development from 2022 to 2025.
Originally, F1 was to introduce an engine development freeze from 2023 at the same time as the power unit budget cap.
However, Red Bull’s engine partner Honda withdrew from F1 in 2021. Red Bull has requested that the engine freeze be introduced one year ahead of schedule in order to continue using the F1 power unit that Honda had been developing until then, and will be implemented from 2022 with the consent of other manufacturers. Became.
Red Bull has established Red Bull Powertrains (RBPT) as a new company to use Honda’s F1 power unit. Development of the 2026 F1 power unit has started.
In 2022, Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri registered the F1 power unit manufactured by Honda Racing (HRC) in Japan under the name “RBPT”.
However, in August 2022, the 2026 F1 power unit regulations were finalized, and a budget cap was set for the above power unit development costs.
Red Bull Powertrains will be a new manufacturer from 2026. Along with Audi, which will also start competing in F1 from 2026, new manufacturers will receive preferential treatment over existing manufacturers regarding budget caps and dynamo usage hours.
But incumbents Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault – and Audi – are reluctant to see Red Bull Powertrains as a new entrant. I am concerned about the exchange of technical information between Honda and Red Bull Powertrains.
For Red Bull, the use of the RBPT name in the F1 engine name in 2022 may also give a chance to rival manufacturers.
Red Bull has already registered two companies in the UK, “Red Bull Powertrains” and “Red Bull Powertrains 2026”, to prove that it is an independent new entrant manufacturer.
It has also been confirmed that Honda (HRC) is registered with the FIA as a manufacturer for 2026.
Red Bull is also reportedly in talks with Ford about an engine naming deal for 2026.
All these movements are connected by changing the current power unit to “Honda RBPT”.
For Honda as well, excluding the possibility of being called a “withdrawal fraud” and the possibility that separate funds are being generated for the use of this name, the use of the Honda name for the champion team’s engine will have a marketing effect. There should be no reason to refuse.
Red Bull seems to be carefully preparing to receive preferential treatment as a new entry manufacturer in the development of the F1 power unit in 2026.
Category: F1 / red bull / honda f1