The first race of the 2023 season has just ended with a domination frightening by the Red Bull. But as much as anyone can talk about it, everyone is also focused on the vintage 2026, which will bring a new concept of the F1 power units. And the news doesn't end there: in fact, we will see two returns of two manufacturers and a debut in the Circus, that is Honda, Ford e Audi.
McLaren teams up with Red Bull, the engine will be from Milton Keynes
Given the change in regulation, all teams that buy engines from other manufacturers will have to look round to understand what the choice is best for them. One of these is McLaren.
The English team had in fact been at the center of some rumors that saw it as a new customer of Red Bull Powertains since 2026. This engine, as confirmed Helmut Marko, will be produced by the Milton Keynes stable's Powertrains division, even if the team were to rebrand itself as Red Bull Ford or Ford Red Bull. In fact, the American company will only be in charge of the production of fuel and batteries.
The partnership could be real, it's not just rumors
If in the past few weeks all these seemed to be rumors, have now been fully confirmed.
The team principal of Red Bull, Christian horner, in fact clarified how there was a meeting between him and Andrea Stella, who has been in the TP role at McLaren since this year: “I thought you were coming to lunch. As a power unit manufacturer for 2026, the potential supply of engines will be discussed. It is natural that we talk to potential customers”.
Similar words also for Stella who confirmed the meeting with Horner and how all the options are being evaluated: "It's obvious that looking to the future you want to understand what's available and it shouldn't be a surprise."
We are of course only at the beginning. It is still too early to be able to say whether such an agreement will be found, but both teams are certainly trying to lay the foundations.
ARTICLE BY FRANCESCO ORLANDO
