Do Redbull really need Porsche?

Lately in Formula 1, Mercedes have been collecting Constructors championships like Thanos collecting infinity stones. They’ve won it consecutively from 2014 until last year. You’re probably thinking, that’s not good for the sport. And you’re probably right. But the fact is that it’s Mercedes, They’re an automotive Powerhouse and they made the world’s first production car.
What I’m saying is that they’ve been making cars for generations, so they’re pretty good at it, and they have a ton of cash to splurge. 

But before the Mercedes Dominance, you have 4 years of Redbull dominance. Utter dominance. 

And Redbull was close to winning the constructors championship last year. But they prioritised Verstappen which was a logical move. 

So the question is, Do Redbull need Porsche? 

Well, they sort of do need them. 

The thing is Redbull racing is a Formula 1 racing team. They’ve been in the sport for years and they certainly know what they are doing. However, in Formula 1, things aren’t always that simple. 

While Redbull has a genius in Adrian Newey, who designs the Aero Dynamic parts of the car. They have never had a concrete Engine supplier. 

They’ve had many. Like Fernando Alonso has teams that he’s raced for. 

Renault, Ferrari and even Tag Huer. and now Honda. 

But last year, Honda announced that they would be stopping production of the F1 engines for Redbull. So Redbull made their own engine factory. Redbull Power trains. In the factory, the Redbull boys could get assistance from the Honda factory. This was set to go on until 2023. 

But it’s been recently revised and Honda will stay by the team until 2025. 

So is that good or bad? 

Well according to Redbull Boss Helmut Marko, it’s good. “Thank God there has been a change of policy with Honda,” Marko told Motorsport.com.

“Originally we would have had to assemble the engines ourselves from 2023. But you need spare parts for that, and 90 per cent of the suppliers are in Japan.

“Thank God that has been revised, because that would have been a problem technically, logistically and also linguistically. Now Honda is making the engines until the end of 2025.”

“We get [the engines] sealed [from Honda], we can’t look inside,” Marko explained.

“That’s also important for our newcomer status in 2026. They deliver it in a box and if there is any problem, only Honda mechanics are allowed to work on the engine.”

“There are already 300 employees at the moment,” Marko said.

“They are only working towards the 2026 regulations. If a new manufacturer comes, we can cooperate. They could use the facilities we have, which is another bonus point.

“If a new manufacturer comes, they immediately have a new engine factory with six functioning test benches. Everything there is the finest of the finest.”

 

So in a nutshell. 

1. It’s currently 2022
2. Honda is on board with Redbull until 2025
3. In 2026, we get whole new engine regulations. Dropping MGUH, 100% sustainable fuel 
4. Redbull powertrains are working on the 2026 engine.
   
   The cherry on the cake? 
5. Porsche could be helping Redbull develop the 2026 engine.
   
   Currently, Porsche does not have the facilities to produce a Formula 1 engine at their factories. And that’s why it seems they’re keen on partnering with Redbull. And as Marko said, they have the facilities, they are looking for expertise. 

 

And with a brand like Porsche, making engines is definitely their expertise.