The Current champion of Formula One Motorsport, Red Bull, is preparing to maintain its reign for a long time. Only time will tell if the Mercedes can stop Max Verstappen and Co. from a hat-trick of winning driver’s championship titles. But the team management of Red Bull is busy making all sorts of arrangements regarding their engines and insides for the long term, even after the 2026 championship. Honda has been a long-time engine partner of the Austrian racing team. But from the 2026 Formula One season, a new partner is supposed to join the Red Bull Family.
Team Principal Christian Horner has said several times that the team looks forward to having its own engine manufactured in Milton Keynes someday. But till then, things will keep going as it has been. Red Bull has partnerships with Honda and Porshe for its engines. But which conglomerate is going to be its third partner is a question. The most circulated rumor is that the American conglomerate Ford is going to be the next engine manufacturing partner.
Who Will Join Red Bull As The New Partner?
Red Bull will disclose the new engine partner in New York on February 3, 2023. As it is going to be the occasion of the brand new launch of the RB19 cars for the new season. The new RB19 vehicles will have a new livery but the same powertrain for a while. Until 2026 Red Bull will continue to have the original engine support from Honda. But the Formula One Universe is wondering about the new engine partner of the champion team.
As far as the reports from the German edition of Sky Sports are concerned, the 2022 champion team will reveal the secret on the occasion of the brand-new car launch as the Chief Executive Officer of the new partner will be present. Ford had a long history in Formula One. But a long story short, Red Bull bought the Ford team in 2005. After this, the fate of the ex-Ford team changed dramatically for the better. As they have won five constructor’s titles and six driver’s titles by now. Given the history between Ford and Red Bull, the rumor of their new partnership in 2026 is not completely impossible.
If Not Ford, Who Else Can It Be?
Other than Ford, what else can be the viable name for the speculations on the new engine partner? Chances are the new partner is Audi. As Audi is the only brand to confirm its entry for the engine regulations in 2026. Moreover, the long-time partner Porshe has not yet had a successful renewal of the contract with the Milton-Keynes-based team. As things stand, it is either Ford or Red Bull themselves for the new manufacturers of their engines.
As per the sources, the sister company of Red Bull Racing, Alpha Tauri, will launch its brand-new car on February 6, 2023. At the same place as their parent company, in New York City. Even the FIA President gave a hint of a new entry in the engine manufacturer’s list. As he mentioned, “Shortly, a new manufacturer might sign for the engine regulations in 2026.” Albeit no particular name is out there, the confusion will get clear after February 3.