Formula 1: 'Logical' if Red Bull & Honda discuss extending relationship

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has said it would be logical if the team and Honda discussed extending their relationship past 2025.

The Milton Keynes-based outfit is fully intent on going independent in 2026 and producing their own power units, making them self-reliant and not having to worry about the quality of the engine from an external manufacturer.

Indeed, they have used the likes of Ferrari, Renault and Honda power during their time on the grid, to varying levels of success, and with Honda signalling their intent to leave F1 at the end of 2021, Red Bull unveiled their plans to build a factory at their base that would allow them to produce their own power units.

The plan is for that to go fully live for 2026 with the new engine regulations in the sport coming into play and, between then and now, Honda will continue to provide trackside and technical support, with the current Red Bull Powertrains-badged units still influenced by the Japanese brand’s technology in the RB18.

With Porsche now off of the scene over a potential collaboration with the project for 2026 onwards, though, there remains an opening, if it’s right for both, for Honda to remain involved in Red Bull in some capacity, and Horner has not ruled that out.

“With the new rules for 2026, it’s a completely new situation,” he said via Speed Week.

“Honda justified its exit by concentrating on the electrification of production cars, but with the new regulations and the 50-50 split between combustion and electric motors, there is an interesting new situation.

“It would be logical and interesting to discuss the new situation with Honda, but it’s not an urgency.”

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