Lando Norris
McLaren
Mercedes
Red Bull
Ferrari
Williams
Racing Bulls
Aston Martin
Haas
Alpine
Despite being ousted from the team in the middle of the 2025 F1 season, former Ferrari F1 driver Ivan Capelli believes Christian Horner deserves full credit for the strong start that Red Bull have enjoyed in pre-season testing.
Before cars had touched down in Barcelona for the inaugural shakedown of the 2026 F1 season, the calibre of engine that Red Bull would produce for the upcoming campaign was under heavy scrutiny.
Following years of success with Honda, the Austrian constructor decided to try their hand at creating their own power units entirely in-house, through a collaboration with Ford.
Sources inside the F1 paddock believed that Red Bull would begin the season on the back foot because of the mammoth task that Red Bull Powertrains had undertaken, but the early forecasts from pre-season testing now tell an entirely different story.
Mercedes chief Toto Wolff is now under the impression that Red Bull have the ‘fastest car’ on the grid ahead of the season-opener.
This could be seen as a deflection tactic from the boss of another team who have been touted as the favourites for 2026, but it could also be a genuine sign of things to come this year.
- READ MORE: F1 team principal says Christian Horner may have been right all along about ‘Frankenstein’ 2026 cars
Doubts are rising at McLaren and Red Bull about pace, but who’s really the weak link in the big four?
Ivan Capelli says ‘credit’ for Red Bull’s strong start in pre-season testing must go to Christian Horner
Christian Horner’s departure from Red Bull came just weeks before the summer break during last year’s campaign, when things were already moving quite quickly within the confines of the Red Bull Powertrains department in Milton Keynes.
During an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, former F1 driver Ivan Capelli detailed how the 52-year-old executive deserves the plaudits for the position that Red Bull currently find themselves in.
He said, “Credit for this goes to Christian Horner, who over the past few years has convinced Honda engineers to stay on board the project, while also securing key figures from Mercedes.
“This means that, yes, the engine is new, but it’s managed by highly competent people.”
Horner was pivotal when it came to hiring a good calibre of staff members to work inside the powertrains department.
According to figures from mid-2024, almost half of the 550-strong staff at Red Bull had previously served at Mercedes, which highlights the extent of the former team principal’s pull.
Even before the beginning of last year’s term, Horner was optimistic about Red Bull’s chances in F1’s new era of regulations.
The British executive highlighted how expected the first iteration of the Red Bull-Ford power unit to be a ‘massive leap’ for the team.
- READ MORE: Christian Horner given ‘intriguing’ Racing Bulls takeover opportunity by 2029 regulation change
George Russell starts Week 2 at the 2026 F1 Bahrain test on top! But what stood out the most?
Christian Horner is still waiting for his Alpine deal to go through
Much of the pre-season talk revolved around Horner’s return to the F1 paddock, with Alpine identified as his most likely option.
He has since been locked into negotiations with Otro Capital, a minority shareholder, to purchase their stake in the Enstone-based F1 outfit.
Horner is currently awaiting the approval of Renault, who are reportedly refusing to give the 52-year-old an answer just yet.
Alpine boss Flavio Briatore has already spoken about working alongside Horner at the French constructor, labelling him as a ‘good asset’ for the team, depending on which role he takes up.
Receive exclusive F1 news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
