F1 News: Helmut Marko Sends Strong Message To Red Bull Powertrains Team - "Has To Work"

2026 will be the first year when Red Bull uses its own engines, developed by Red Bull Powertrains.

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has stressed that the team does not have an alternate engine option from 2026, the year Red Bull Powertrains introduces its own engines. Honda, the current engine supplier to Red Bull Racing, will be parting ways at the end of 2025 so the team will have to ensure that its in-house engine is perfect in every way. 

With the introduction of new regulations in Formula 1 appearing over the horizon, Red Bull faces a countdown as its agreement with Honda concludes in under two years. The partnership with the Japanese engine manufacturer is being smoothly executed until 2026, facilitated by a four-year engine freeze implemented after Honda departed from F1.

Just last week, there was a report that Ferrari fired up its 2026 engine prototype for the first time in Maranello, a sign that the Red team could be well ahead in the development of its new engine. 

Teams are aggressively moving forward with the development of their new engines, which will feature an equal power output from internal combustion and electric power, a first for the sport.

Marko has insisted that Red Bull Powertrains' new engine "has to work" not only to get it right the first time but, also because the outfit and junior team AlphaTauri do not have a backup engine supplier to rely on, in case things go wrong, since Honda has entered into a deal with Aston Martin to supply engines from 2026. 

There is a push for Red Bull to develop powerful engines that help maintain the outfit's dominance on the grid. When Marko was asked if Honda remained a backup plan for 2026 if the Red Bull engine fell short, he told the Austrian publication OE24:

“No, it has to work.

“From 2026, we will be racing with our own engine. Until then, we want the best possible performance potential from Honda, which has worked well so far.

“Honda was my deal, so I will continue to look after it.”

Speaking on Red Bull Powertrain's progress with its power unit, he added:

“Even though we are still a long way from competitive use, everything is going according to plan and the performance curve is right.”