Red Bull look beyond Porsche to independent future in F1

MONZA, Italy : Red Bull will be at no disadvantage to Formula One rivals without Porsche as a partner, team boss Christian Horner said after the announcement last week that talks with the German sportscar maker had ended.

The two sides had been discussing joining forces for months but championship leaders Red Bull were determined to stay independent.

Horner told reporters at the Italian Grand Prix that leaked details of a deal suggested Porsche maybe "were slightly getting a little bit ahead of themselves" and no binding commitment was ever signed.

"It was only natural to discuss and explore possibilities with them. In the end it wasn’t the right deal for us strategically to benefit us on the journey we’re on," he added.

"We are a race team fundamentally and that enables us to make quick decisions and react very quickly. I think we’ve seen on so many occasions manufacturers have been less autonomous in their decision-making.

"That was a key aspect of protecting what we have and how we operate, which has proved to be reasonably successful."

Red Bull have set up their own powertrains company at Milton Keynes in central England employing more than 300 people and with more recruits joining soon.

The facility could ultimately provide power units for up to four teams, although initially only Red Bull and sister team AlphaTauri when new engine rules come in for 2026.

"Our strategy to have engine and chassis all under one roof in one campus... remains absolutely unchanged. At no point was this dependent on the involvement of an investor or a manufacturer or an OEM," said Horner.

Red Bull won four constructors and drivers' titles in a row between 2010-13 with Renault engines and now use an engine assembled in Japan under an extended