Horner: Red Bull Faces Monumental Task with Ford in 2026

Red Bull and Ford’s 2026 engine project is a bold reset, with Horner acknowledging the colossal challenge against seasoned rivals.

Christian Horner admitted that the 2024 season was very challenging. The Red Bull team principal witnessed what seemed like the end of a cycle, marked by departures and performance struggles. However, he praised the resilience of his staff and Max Verstappen’s excellence.

“We won nine races, nine pole positions, four Sprint victories, and defended the drivers’ championship with two rounds to spare. It’s a testament to how Max drove last year, but also to the team, which never gave up and remained focused on performance,” Horner told Planet F1.

“The year was certainly very tough. There was a lot to handle, but we always stayed focused on the track. Obviously, we also experienced some changes within the team.”

“But we’re evolving for the future, and I think we’re well-positioned for it. My passion has always been competition. That’s what gets me up in the morning. Once a competitor, always a competitor. When the lights go out, that’s what it’s all about.”

Speaking about his passion for Formula 1, Horner highlighted that he is the most experienced team principal in the sport and, alongside Toto Wolff, one of the few to have held his role since before 2022. He insisted he has never considered retirement, despite the challenges.

“I’ve never had that thought, to be honest with you. The next chapter of Red Bull Powertrains is very exciting; it’s the biggest challenge we’ve taken on in 20 years in this sport. I believe the next chapter could potentially be one of the most exciting. You’re always learning in this business.”

The Briton outlined the challenges faced by his team and the efforts of Red Bull and Verstappen: “You never give up, you ignore the noise your rivals might make, and you focus on yourselves.”

“I think the greatest lesson is that we have extraordinary strength and depth within this team, with a group of very passionate and committed people who pulled together this year and worked against all odds.”

“In many ways, Max had his most impressive championship because the challenges were completely different. We started the season with a very dominant car, but he really had to roll up his sleeves and fight hard for every win, every point on days when victory wasn’t possible.”

“Even at his home race, he chose to secure the points for second place. He conducted a very mature campaign, working closely with his engineers and, of course, the team behind the scenes.”

Red Bull also faced the departure of Adrian Newey among others, and despite the difficulty, Horner denied that this had a direct impact on the performance of the RB20: “Of course, it’s sad to see Adrian leave; he played a pivotal role in the team during his time with us.”

“But it’s purely coincidental that the weekend he announced his departure was the one where we hit a small dip! No individual can have such an immediate impact. I think Adrian would be the first to admit that.”

“What I’m really pleased about, however, is how the team bounced back at the end of the year — the pole position and victory in Qatar, something that would have been unimaginable at the end of August or early September.”

After their final year with Honda, Red Bull will become an engine manufacturer in partnership with Ford, and Horner acknowledges the immense challenges of reaching the level of their rivals. He admits the project will likely lag behind benchmarks like Ferrari and Mercedes.

“The 2026 season will be a complete reset, and we’re building an engine when, four years ago, we started with a blank sheet of paper. In four years, we’ve built a factory and developed an engine, but we’re competing against 75 years of experience at Ferrari and 30 years at Mercedes HPP, so we have no illusions.”

“The mountain we have to climb is enormous, but with the right mindset and the quality people we have within the company, we will get there. This is by far the biggest challenge we have taken on in Formula 1.”