Mercedes F1 representative “Red Bull will be strong in 2026 with the cooperation of Honda”[F1-Gate.com]

Mercedes F1 team principal Toto Wolff says there is “no doubt” that Red Bull Racing will quickly pick up the pace when it enters its own F1 power unit in 2026.

F1 will change the power unit regulation in 2026. With the system now using up to 50% more electricity and 100% more sustainable fuel, and the costly MGU-H removed, Formula 1 is entering a new era.

After Honda withdrew from F1, Red Bull will set up its own F1 powertrain division, Red Bull Powertrains, at Milton Keynes headquarters and will use its own F1 power unit from 2026. The first V6 engine prototype started on August 4th.

Toto Wolff believes Red Bull will benefit from the knowledge he has gained working with Honda, which continues to service its power unit.

“They will be in good shape by 2026. I have no doubts about that,” Toto Volg told the New York Times.

“They have a huge advantage in being able to benchmark themselves against whatever activity they are doing against one of Honda’s current leading powertrains.”

“They have it in the car, they know the performance it brings, the characteristics of the power unit. That’s why learning where the target is is going to be pretty obvious.”

“That’s a big advantage and we can buy other kits.”

“They’ve hired good people, they’ve got investment behind it, they’ve got a lot of ambition and it shows on the chassis side, so they’re competitors that we need to take seriously.”

Mercedes lost a lot of key personnel last year to Red Bull Powertrains after the team has hired heavily to stay competitive over the past four years.

Despite the shortage of manpower, Toto Wolff commented, “We can’t stop the travelers. If the wanderers need to leave, let them go.”

“I have no problem with people leaving. We lost some good people and some not-so-good people.”

“It’s our responsibility to build from the inside and develop the next level of leaders, and that’s fine.”

Red Bull announced that it will strengthen its partnership with Honda, and it was announced that the HONDA logo will be installed on the Red Bull / Alpha Tauri F1 machine.

At the summit meeting held in Japan where the F1 Japan GP will be held, it is said that partnerships after 2026 were also discussed, with Red Bull Powertrains internal combustion engines and Honda officially returning to F1 and in charge of the hybrid side. It is reported that the collaboration will be resumed in some form.

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Category: F1 / mercedes / red bull / honda f1

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