This weekend’s Australian Grand Prix will mark Red Bull’s first as an F1 engine manufacturer. There are parallels to be drawn with the opening round in 2019, when Max Verstappen secured a surprise podium in Red Bull’s first race with Honda.
“Red Bull made the strategic decision to partner with Honda for superior development trajectory, as Renault had been struggling in performance and reliability. The switch was prompted by Honda’s proven progress showcased through Toro Rosso in 2018.
Despite Honda’s troubled history with McLaren, Red Bull took a bold step in 2019 to end ties with Renault and embrace Honda as its engine supplier. The move was perceived as risky due to Honda’s recent failure at McLaren.
In the early races of 2019, Red Bull faced tough competition from Mercedes and Ferrari, but showed promising signs with Honda as their engine supplier. The partnership eventually led to significant success between 2021 and 2024.
Fast-forward to 2026, Red Bull is venturing into producing its own power unit, a challenging task but one where success may be possible. The team aims to compete among the top teams with the help of experienced individuals guiding the engine development.”
