Red Bull rebrands engine division as new details emerge on Horner's summer dismissal
Red Bull is streamlining the name of its 2026 engine project to 'Red Bull Ford' as new details emerge on Christian Horner's summer dismissal. CEO Oliver Mintzlaff cited the need for a 'new chapter' after a difficult start to 2025, highlighting the team's transition into a new era under Laurent Mekies.
Red Bull is rebranding its in-house engine project to 'Red Bull Ford' for the 2026 season, marking a new chapter for the team's power unit ambitions. Simultaneously, fresh details have surfaced regarding the decision to dismiss long-serving Team Principal Christian Horner in the summer of 2025, with Red Bull's leadership citing the need for a fresh start after a challenging start to the season.
Why it matters:
The dual announcements signal a significant period of transition for the reigning world champions. The engine name change formalizes the partnership with Ford and sheds the 'Powertrains' label as the project matures from a concept to a race-ready product. Meanwhile, the candid explanation behind Horner's departure provides rare insight into the internal pressures and decision-making at the pinnacle of F1, highlighting that past success is no guarantee of future security, even for the most decorated figures.
The details:
- Engine Rebrand: The power units, previously known as Red Bull Powertrains and then Red Bull Powertrains-Ford, will be simplified to Red Bull Ford from 2026. This coincides with the first season the team will use its own engines, ending a 20-year reliance on customer power units from manufacturers like Renault and Honda.
- Customer Team: The sister team, Racing Bulls (formerly AlphaTauri), will also use the Red Bull Ford power units.
- Horner's Dismissal: Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff provided new context for Horner's summer exit, telling De Telegraaf that the team's early 2025 performance lag behind McLaren was a key catalyst. He emphasized the decision was not taken lightly but was necessary to "turn the page and start a new chapter," underscoring a shift from relying on historical success to demanding current performance.
What's next:
The 2026 season represents a major reset for Red Bull Racing. The team will field its first fully independent power unit under the Red Bull Ford banner, a high-stakes engineering endeavor. On the management side, new Team Principal Laurent Mekies will lead the team into this new era, with the driver lineup of Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar tasked with returning the team to the front of the grid after a season of intensified competition.