Christian Horner has offered an update on how work is progressing at the all-new Red Bull Powertrains facility at the team's campus in Milton Keynes. Honda are still supplying Red Bull with power units, with the engines in the back of the RB18 developed, manufactured, and shipped from their Sakura base in Japan – an arrangement that is set to take Red Bull to the end of the engine freeze. The RBPT division is then due to take over the design and manufacturing of the next-generation F1 power unit when the freeze is lifted, which is currently planned for the 2026 season. According to Horner, work on the new facility is going to plan, and a move of personnel into the department building is imminent. "As far as our own preparations, we are on target," Horner told media, including RacingNews365.com , during the Australian Grand Prix weekend. "We will move into our new facility in May, and the first Red Bull engine will run on the dyno by the end of the year. "They're making great progress. It's exciting times; it's a super exciting project. We've attracted some phenomenal talent from all corners of industry. "It's a new chapter. 2026, whilst it seems a long way, is actually a lot closer than you think!"
Horner seeking conversation over "newcomer" status
As the arrangement of the new engine rules framework currently stands, Red Bull Powertrains would be regarded as a 'newcomer' manufacturer from 2026. This would entitle them to some perks, including an allowance for extra expenditure during their first three years of operation. The perks would also include some extra hours on an engine dyno, compared to what existing manufacturers such as Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault are entitled to. Asked about the broader agreements regarding the upcoming engine rules, Horner said he'd like to see some extra concessions made in order to help new manufacturers. "The framework that actually exists within the power unit regulations is reasonable from a newcomer status perspective, which obviously Red Bull Powertrains will be for 2026," he said. "I think that it's modest hours, and I think it's a modest $10 million dollars in the first two years, and $5 million dollars in the third year, as an allowance for a newcomer. "I think the thing that is the most restrictive, that needs to be looked at, is from a capital expenditure perspective, because, essentially, there's only $15 million worth of capital expenditure allowed on equipment. [That's] from when the cap comes in. "When you look at our competitors - in some cases who have obviously had 70 years of investment on the engine side - to think that you can have a facility fully operational and equipped within the next nine or eight months is unrealistic, so I think that's something that needs to be looked at"
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