F1: Christian Horner Opens Up about Potential McLaren Engine Deal with Red Bull

Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull, has said categorically that engine cooperation with McLaren is not in the works at this time. Red Bull Powertrains and Ford have agreed to combine for the 2026 Formula One season and beyond, while Honda will make their return to the sport with Aston Martin. As a result, Aston Martin will end their partnership with Mercedes as their engine supplier, and McLaren may consider doing the same in their pursuit of Formula 1 supremacy. After spending the 2023 season with Red Bull, British engineer Rob Marshall will switch teams and join McLaren for the 2024 campaign. There was talk of a possible engine deal to go along with the Rob Marshall McLaren deal.

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F1: McLaren's Rob Marshall Move

Marshall, formerly the chief designer at Red Bull, will be joining McLaren as its technical director of engineering and design at the beginning of next year, the team announced in advance of the Spanish Grand Prix. McLaren has launched a massive hiring push, including his hiring, in preparation for the arrival of a new wind tunnel and simulator in the near future. McLaren has had a rough start to the 2023 season due to the underwhelming performance of the MCL60, but the team is working tirelessly to make benefits in the short term and long term.

The departure of previous technical director James Key, who has since joined Sauber, prompted McLaren to not only hire Marshall but also to undertake a substantial reorganisation of its technical department. The team is certain that their new strategy, which has three experts in design (Marshall), aerodynamics (Peter Prodromou), and vehicle concept (David Sanchez), will help them produce a superior vehicle.

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F1: Red Bull Powertrains

Christian Horner, the team manager for Red Bull, has revealed that the organisation has two potential buyers for engines after the 2026 F1 season. The defending F1 world champions established a new agreement with Ford at the start of the 2023 season to create their own engines beginning in 2026. Since this is the case, the Austrian-British team will be supplying power units to a few of the client teams.

It's hard to argue that placing your faith in RBPT at this point isn't far too risky. The squad is making its maiden venture into power unit manufacture and will go up against such heavy hitters like Mercedes and others.

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