McLaren Reveals Interest In Red Bull Power Unit For 2026

Zak Brown and Andrea Stella express their interest in meeting with Red Bull about their new 2026 power unit.

Red Bull Powertrains is set to provide power units following the 2026 change in regulations. And with the current success of the team and its straight-line speed, it's no surprise that other teams are wanting to learn more already with it being confirmed that McLaren is in talks with the Milton Keynes squad. 

Christian Horner, the team's boss, has confirmed that he held talks with McLaren CEO Zak Brown to discuss a potential engine partnership. While McLaren is currently powered by Mercedes' High-Performance Powertrains (HPP), these new regulations mean the industry will see a huge refresh and reshuffle. 

Horner hinted at the friendly nature of the talks, saying:

"With Zak, I thought we were going for lunch!" 

He continued, answering questions about the hookup between the two team chiefs:

“But as a power unit manufacturer for 2026, it’s inevitable that discussions are going to be held regarding a potential powertrain supplier and it’s only natural that we would speak with potential customers.”

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella also commented on the potential partnership:

“We have a solid partnership with HPP. At the same time, obviously looking forward you will understand what’s available. So I think that’s natural [to talk to other potential partners], it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise.”

With Audi joining the grid in 2026, these new regulations and changes will make the F1 landscape look very different compared to what we see now. We're looking forward to the playing field being levelled.