Growing ‘mistrust’ in F1 paddock over what Red Bull are planning to do at their factory in 2025

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Red Bull are unique among the big names in F1 in that they have a junior team on the grid. RB, previously known as AlphaTauri and Toro Rosso, are tasked with developing their young drivers.

Of course, their rivals have relationships with midfield outfits too. Ferrari effectively placed Charles Leclerc at Sauber for his rookie year, while their latest academy graduate Oliver Bearman will start out at Haas next year.

Ferrari supply engines for both of those teams, though Sauber will become an Audi works team from 2026. Their ties to Haas have been especially controversial, with the American outfit’s midfield rivals raging at their alleged ‘white Ferrari’ during the 2022 season.

Mercedes’ role as F1’s leading engine supplier has also extended their influence, though they’re closer with Williams than they are with McLaren or Aston Martin. George Russell spent three years at Grove before replacing Valtteri Bottas as Lewis Hamilton’s teammate.

There was talk of a similar arrangement in 2025 but Toto Wolff feared Williams would ‘contaminate’ Kimi Antonelli due to the limitations of their car. James Vowles also considered Mercedes reserve driver Mick Schumacher when he sacked Logan Sargeant but ultimately selected Franco Colapinto instead.

Still, all of these teams have retained their independence. RB are perhaps the exception in that regard, and Daniel Ricciardo’s fastest lap on his F1 farewell at the Singapore GP, which denied an extra point to Max Verstappen’s title rival Lando Norris, reignited the debate over their role.

Red Bull plan to integrate RB at Milton Keynes factory has raised suspicions

From next year, RB engineers will work in their own facility at Red Bull’s Milton Keynes base. While they will maintain nominal separation by operating in different buildings, this has ‘fuelled mistrust’ in the F1 paddock.

That’s according to German publication Auto Motor und Sport. RB’s ‘synergy’ with Red Bull is apparently increasing ‘year by year’.

From 2026, Peter Bayer’s team will rely on external suppliers for their engine, transmission, suspension, hydraulics and steering. They will be customers of Red Bull Powertrains, the brand-new division set up to replace the departing Honda.

Between 2007 and 2013, and again in 2016, the junior team used Ferrari engines. But they’ve been aligned with Red Bull in this department for the past eight seasons.

The four drivers who could partner Yuki Tsunoda at RB in 2025

It’s difficult for Red Bull and RB to argue that they’re autonomous entities when Christian Horner and Helmut Marko have control over both teams’ driver line-ups. They’ll no doubt take feedback onboard from CEO Bayer and team principal Laurent Mekies, but the final decision will rest with them.

With just three weeks of the season to go, RB still don’t know who will fill their second seat for 2025. Yuki Tsunoda is set to stay after a one-year contract extension in the summer.

There’s growing confidence in some quarters that Sergio Perez will stay at Red Bull, which would almost certainly mean Liam Lawson staying put. But if Lawson gets a promotion, there are three other names in contention.

One insider claims Red Bull’s shareholders have approved Franco Colapinto as an addition to the stable, though they’ll have to agree a deal with Williams. F2 title contender Isack Hadjar is also an option, and Will Buxton says Arvid Lindblad could make his debut in 2025 too.