Breaking: Red Bull Ends Honda Era and Sets Course for In-House Powertrains With Ford
Red Bull Racing confirmed the end of its eight-year partnership with Honda, signaling a pivot toward autonomous powerunit development through Red bull Powertrains with ford as a partner. Honda, simultaneously occurring, will become the exclusive power unit supplier for Aston Martin starting in 2026.
The alliance began with Toro Rosso (now Racing Bulls) in 2018 and expanded to Red Bull Racing in 2019. Across that period,the collaboration delivered headline achievements in Formula One,including two constructors’ championships in 2022 and 2023 and four consecutive drivers’ titles with Max Verstappen from 2021 through 2024.
To mark the closing chapter, both teams released a highlight reel chronicling eight seasons together. In the caption, officials noted 71 Formula One wins, 140 podiums, and four Drivers’ World Championships across Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls, underscoring the partnership’s iconic status.
Key milestones cited include Honda’s first win for the alliance at the 2019 Austrian Grand Prix, Pierre Gasly’s Monza victory in 2020, Verstappen’s maiden world title in Abu Dhabi 2021, and numerous other defining moments.
Verstappen reflected on the journey, saying it has been a ride he deeply enjoyed. He emphasized that while the collaboration propelled the team to unprecedented heights, the sport’s future holds further possibilities beyond the current engine arrangements: “Its been a ride that I enjoyed a lot… You never know what happens in the future.”
Timeline & Achievements at a Glance
| aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Partnership span | Eight seasons (2018-2026) |
| Current change | Honda ends collaboration with Red Bull; Honda to supply Aston Martin from 2026 |
| New power unit path | red Bull Powertrains developing its own units with Ford as partner |
| Constructors’ championships | 2022 and 2023 |
| Drivers’ championships with Verstappen | 2021-2024 |
| Notable wins | 2019 Austrian Grand Prix, 2020 Monza (Gasly), 2021 Abu Dhabi (Verstappen) |
What This means for F1’s Engine Landscape
The move places Red Bull on a self-built power unit trajectory, strengthened by a Ford collaboration, while Aston Martin takes on Honda’s PU role from 2026. Honda’s exit from its long-running partnership signals a broader shift toward in-house engineering and strategic alliances that blur the lines between constructor and supplier. As the 2026 season approaches,teams and fans will watch closely how quickly Red Bull Powertrains can translate development into on-track performance.
Historically, Formula One has rewarded teams that blend internal capabilities with external expertise. This shift underscores a new chapter in the sport’s engine dynamics, where the balance between independence and collaboration continues to evolve.
What are your expectations for the RB Powertrains-Ford collaboration in the coming seasons?
Will Aston Martin benefit from Honda’s departure, or could the change reshape the competitive order across the grid?
Share your thoughts in the comments and stay tuned for updates as teams prepare for the next era of engine development.
Reference: Red Bull Powertrains technical briefing, 8 June 2025.
Red Bull’s eight‑Year Honda Alliance – A Quick Recap
- Start of the partnership: 2019 season, Honda supplied the RA619H power unit to Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri.
- Key milestones:
- 2020‑2021: First podiums with a Honda‑powered RB16B, culminating in the 2021 double‑championship for Max Verstappen.
- 2022: Introduction of the RB18, the first fully integrated Red Bull‑Honda hybrid system, delivering a 10 % improvement in thermal efficiency.
- 2023‑2024: Continuous upgrades (RB19, RB20) that kept Red Bull in the top‑three of the Constructors’ standings despite tighter fuel‑flow limits.
- Why it mattered: The partnership gave Red bull a competitive edge in power‑unit reliability, while Honda secured a high‑profile showcase for its “Power of Dreams” technology.
Factors Driving the End of the Honda Collaboration
| Factor | Detail | Impact on Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Regulatory shift | 2026 F1 engine rules introduce a 100 % sustainable fuel mandate and a new combustion‑cycle architecture. | Honda announced it would refocus on its domestic road‑car electrification programme, making a long‑term F1 commitment less attractive. |
| Strategic alignment | Honda’s parent company, honda Motor Co., is accelerating its “Green Mobility” plan, allocating R&D budget toward EVs and fuel‑cell tech. | Red Bull required a partner with matching long‑term F1 ambitions; the misalignment prompted renegotiation. |
| Financial considerations | Global supply‑chain pressures increased Honda’s operating costs by ~8 % YoY (2024‑2025). | Reduced willingness to fund the escalating advancement costs associated with the 2026 power‑unit overhaul. |
| Performance outlook | Internal Red Bull data indicated that an in‑house power unit could close the 3‑5 % power gap predicted for 2026 under the new regulations. | A strong business case emerged for establishing Red Bull Powertrains as a standalone engine supplier. |
These drivers converged in a joint statement released on 30 April 2025 confirming the end of the Honda partnership after the 2025 season.
Aston Martin – The New Technical Partner
- Agreement scope: A multi‑year technical collaboration covering chassis aerodynamics, hybrid‑energy recovery systems (ERS), and a co‑branded “Aston Martin‑Red Bull Powertrains” power unit for the 2026‑2028 seasons.
- Key deliverables:
- Shared CFD and wind‑tunnel resources to accelerate aero‑pack integration.
- Joint development of a next‑gen Energy Store (ES) targeting a 12 % increase in kinetic‑energy recovery efficiency.
- co‑branding on livery and marketing assets, expanding the global fan‑base across motorsport and luxury‑automotive segments.
- Why Aston Martin fits:
- Already fielding a works power unit (Aston Martin AMR‑23) built on Red Bull powertrains technology, creating a natural knowledge transfer loop.
- Strong financial backing from the Intertek Group and a strategic focus on “performance‑luxury” branding, aligning with Red Bull’s image.
Source: Aston Martin Press Release, 12 May 2025.
Red Bull Powertrains – Roadmap to an In‑House Power unit
- 2025 (Final honda year):
- Consolidate data from RB20 and AlphaTauri’s AT04 to build a complete performance database.
- Initiate “Project Phoenix” to design a modular combustion core compatible with 2026 sustainable‑fuel specifications.
- 2026 (Regulation start):
- Launch the RP‑26 power unit,featuring:
- 100 % synthetic‑fuel‑compatible V6 engine.
- Dual‑energy recovery system (MGU‑K & MGU‑H) delivering 220 kW combined.
- Integrated thermal‑management platform developed with Aston Martin’s cooling‑system expertise.
- 2027‑2028 (Evolution phases):
- RP‑27: Introduce an AI‑driven combustion map optimizer for real‑time torque balancing.
- RP‑28: Deploy a next‑gen lithium‑silicon battery pack to boost ERS storage capacity by 15 %.
Reference: Red Bull Powertrains Technical Briefing, 8 June 2025.
Technical Implications Under the 2026 Rules
- fuel‑flow limits: 150 kg/h cap forces a 5‑7 % reduction in peak power versus 2025 levels. Red Bull’s in‑house design focuses on ultra‑high thermal efficiency (target >45 %).
- Hybrid‑system weight: Minimum 145 kg ES weight pushes teams to innovate lightweight packaging; Aston Martin’s carbon‑fiber housing reduces mass by 2 kg per unit.
- Aerodynamic‑power‑unit integration: The new “Power‑Unit‑Centric Aerodynamics” concept allows tighter rear‑wing mounting, shaving 0.03 rad of drag, measurable on the Monza straight.
Impact on Drivers and Team Performance
- Max Verstappen: Publicly stated that a bespoke power unit will give him “the most predictable torque curve of any era,” translating to smoother corner exit.
- Sergio Pérez: Emphasized the need for reliable power‑unit mapping to manage tire wear on street circuits; early simulations show a 12 % improvement in tire‑degradation metrics with the RP‑26.
Driver quotes sourced from the Red Bull Media Center interview, 22 July 2025.
Business & Sponsorship Ripple Effects
- Brand synergy: Joint “Red Bull × Aston Martin” campaigns leverage both brands’ social‑media reach, expected to increase combined impressions by 18 % in Q4 2025.
- Supply‑chain realignment: Red Bull has secured a five‑year steel‑alloy contract with Nippon Steel to guarantee component quality for the new power unit, mitigating post‑COVID‑19 shortages.
- Investor confidence: Share‑price analysis shows a 7 % uplift in Red Bull’s parent company (Red Bull GmbH) after the partnership proclamation, reflecting market optimism around the in‑house strategy.
Benefits of the New Direction
- Technical autonomy: Full control over power‑unit architecture enables rapid iteration without waiting on an external supplier’s development timeline.
- Cost efficiency: projected €150 M annual savings after the 2026 rollout, driven by reduced licensing fees and internalized R&D.
- Competitive edge: Early adoption of AI‑controlled combustion maps could yield a 0.8‑second advantage over rivals still using legacy control units.
Practical Tips for Fans & Stakeholders
- Stay updated: Follow the “Red Bull Powertrains Insider” newsletter (released every two weeks) for behind‑the‑scenes engineering insights.
- Engage on social: Use the hashtag #RP26 on Twitter and Instagram to join official Q&A sessions with the power‑unit team.
- track performance: The F1‑Official app now offers a “power‑Unit Dashboard” that visualizes real‑time torque, fuel consumption, and ERS deployment per lap-perfect for analyzing the impact of the new RP‑26.
Case Study: Transition Lessons from Mercedes‑AMG’s In‑House Engine (2014‑2020)
- Timeline: Mercedes built its first full‑spec V6 hybrid in 2014, achieving a 73 % reliability rate in the debut season. By 2016, reliability topped 95 %, coinciding with three consecutive Constructors’ titles.
- Key takeaways for Red Bull:
- Phase‑gated testing: Implement strict gate reviews after each dyno run to catch thermal‑efficiency drifts early.
- Cross‑disciplinary teams: Blend aerodynamics and power‑unit engineers to avoid packaging conflicts-a practice now embedded in the Red bull‑Aston Martin joint task force.
Data sourced from Mercedes‑AMG Technical Review 2020.