Is Red Bull set to venture down independent power unit route?

Christian Horner has suggested Red Bull could take over Honda's power unit programme once it exits Formula 1 at the end of 2021.

Team principal Horner has made clear that all options are being considered as it now plots a way forward from 2022 onwards, but the choices appear to be severely limited.

Toto Wolff has ruled Mercedes out of the running; Cyril Abiteboul believes Renault is far down the pecking order, while Mattia Binotto has suggested Ferrari may only consider it.

Also on the table is Red Bull aligning itself with an independent partner that could take up the ongoing development of a system Honda is to upgrade over the course of next season before departing.

The favourite at this stage is Mugen Euro, based just five miles away from Red Bull's Milton Keynes headquarters, while Ilmor and Cosworth could also be in the running.

Becoming a customer team again is ideally not a route Horner is keen to venture down. He said: "A team like Red Bull has big aspirations. It’s a winning team, we’re the only team in Formula 1 in the hybrid era that has won with two power units.

"We gave Honda its first podium, its first victory in the hybrid era, as we did for Renault with their hybrid. So we have to weigh up all of the options and what will give us the most competitive package for 2022 onwards.

"We have a big regulation change coming for 2022 and the engine plays an integral role within that.

"So we will take the time to discuss with the manufacturers, discuss with the FIA, to discuss with Liberty in terms of what their thoughts are for the future as well because obviously, it’s bad news for the sport that a manufacturer such as Honda has decided to withdraw for the reasons that they have."

Finding an independent power unit partner would appear to be a logical step for Red Bull as it would have control over development, while it would also avoid the considerable price tag of paying €15million per year for a customer supply. "It’s like all things, you’ve got to consider all possibilities. You’ve got to be open to all possibilities," added Horner.

"We see in this sport that sometimes the unexplainable can happen and it’s our duty to look at what is the most competitive way forward in 2022. We have the time. Honda has afforded us that time.

"If they’d have made this decision in the spring of next year or in the autumn of next year, it would have been a far worse scenario for us.

"We’re only just halfway through the relationship with Honda and we’ve achieved a lot in the time that we’ve been together, we aim to achieve a lot more in the remaining time that we have together.

"Obviously there are the bigger questions that need to be answered between now and the end of the year."

Before you go...

Red Bull has an alphabet of options before calling Renault - Abiteboul

Hamilton and Bottas 'living like hermits' to avoid Covid contact - Wolff

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