Christian Horner explains how Red Bull are going to take a ‘massive leap’ going into the 2026 F1 season

Follow us on Google Discover

While the 2025 Formula 1 season is two months away, attention is also on 2026 and the exciting changes on the horizon for the sport.

The 2026 regulations will see the biggest engine and chassis changes in modern history. F1 will move to using 100% sustainable fuels while the power unit will have a 50/50 split between internal combustion engine and electrical power.

The 2026 season will also see dramatic changes amongst the teams. Alpine will become a Mercedes customer team after shutting down their Viry-Chatillon factory and Audi and Cadillac will join the sport – the former taking over from Sauber.

Red Bull will enter a new era as they part ways with Honda – who will become Aston Martin’s engine supplier. The Milton Keynes-based outfit will manufacture their own power unit in collaboration with Ford through Red Bull Powertrains.

It will mark the first time in Red Bull’s 20-year history they will run their own engines. It is also another headache for the team as they head into what it is already set to be a stressful 2025 season.

Max Verstappen won his fourth championship in 2024, but there is concern over Red Bull’s 2025 package after McLaren and Ferrari made a huge step forward last season.

Furthermore, Red Bull have to urgently train Arvid Lindblad to solve their reserve crisis if any of the main team or Racing Bulls drivers miss a weekend.

Christian Horner says RB Powertrains will help Red Bull make a ‘massive leap’ in 2026

But while the stresses of 2025 will be on the team’s mind, the future is exciting for Red Bull as they enter their ‘own destiny’ in the woods of team principal Christian Horner.

Speaking on the Drive to Wynn Podcast ahead of the Las Vegas GP – where Verstappen claimed his fourth title – Horner says 2025 will be ‘immensely close’, but Red Bull Powertrains will be a ‘gamechanger’ for them heading into the new regulations.

“I think next year 2025 is going to be immensely, immensely close. And then we get a reset in 2026 where there’s a big regulation change, chassis and engine, first time they’ve done both elements for 50 years,” he said.

“That’s going to be a gamechanger. And so, suddenly we’ve got this new power unit, so the fuel going to play a key, key role as one of the big performance differentiators.

“We’re tremendously lucky with ExxonMobil as our partners that I think we’ve got the right team behind us. And of course, we’re producing our on engine which is a massive leap.

“As we’re taking control of our own destiny not being reliant on a manufacturer of whether they’re going to be there or not in one or two years time”.

Could Red Bull’s engine switch lead to Max Verstappen’s early exit?

At this stage, no one knows where anyone is in terms of performance with their 2026 packages. The teams can now officially start work on next year’s car.

Red Bull are taking a huge risk with RB Powertrains – and it could see their star man leave the team if it backfires.

Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull until 2028, but he has been linked with a move away from the team since early 2024. The Dutchman was Mercedes‘ number one target to replace Lewis Hamilton until they signed Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Red Bull Racing from engine to Ford links

Verstappen could leave before 2026 if he is unsatisfied with what he is seeing from Red Bull about their long-term future.

And it appears a move could be on the cards. Verstappen is ‘convinced’ Mercedes will have the best engine in 2026, which could open the door for the 27-year-old to jump ship and leave Red Bull’s project.

Losing the Dutchman would be a hammer blow for Red Bull. But if they can get their engine right, they could prove to be unstoppable once again.