Why Porsche, Red Bull Pull Plug on 2026 F1 Engine Deal

• A proposed deal between Red Bull and Porsche would have led to Porsche supplying power units to Red Bull Racing beginning in 2026.

• Porsche desired an equal stake in the company that operates the race team.

• Porsche reportedly wanted the team rebranded as Red Bull-Porsche, rather than just joining as a power unit provider.
  

The proposed partnership between Porsche Motorsport and Red Bull Racing in Formula 1 from 2026 has collapsed.

Red Bull has been in discussion for a prolonged period with Porsche over linking up in anticipation of the new power unit regulations that will come into force in 2026. However, as negotiations continued there were differences between the wants of the respective parties.

Red Bull, which last year formed Red Bull Powertrains and has retained an affiliation with erstwhile supplier Honda, wanted to keep hold of the independence it has had since joining Formula 1 in 2005.

Speaking after Sunday’s Dutch Grand Prix, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner emphasized that stance, saying, “We’re an independent team, and that’s part of the DNA. The powertrain is a different challenge, and of course if there was a partner to potentially work with that would make logical sense. The team is the biggest marketing asset globally for Red Bull, why would we compromise that strategically for the long-term?”

But Porsche desired an equal stake in the company that operates the race team, in effect becoming Red Bull-Porsche, rather than just joining as a power unit provider.