P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Christian Horner’s departure is expected to affect Red Bull’s engine division, with a former Mercedes figure set for promotion.
Red Bull is making a significant change to its new Powertrains division by restructuring following the removal of Christian Horner. The Powertrains division, established in 2021, is working on developing Red Bull’s first in-house F1 engine for the 2026 season, with Horner no longer involved in operational roles since July 9th. Laurent Mekies, Horner’s direct successor at Red Bull Racing, is expected to take on the CEO duties at Red Bull Powertrains. Ben Hodgkinson, the current technical director, is set to play a more prominent role in the engine department, having been recruited from Mercedes High Performance Powertrains (HPP). Red Bull GmbH management is impressed with Hodgkinson’s performance, hence entrusting him with increased operational responsibilities for the engine project. Additionally, Red Bull will supply engines to its sister team, Racing Bulls, in 2026, with technical support from Ford, which became a partner in March 2023.
