Christian Horner admits it would be "logical" for Red Bull to strike a deal with Porsche, should the Volkswagen Group deliver on their pledge to enter the German car brand into Formula 1. Volkswagen have plans to enter the sport in 2026 - when a new engine formula is set to come into play - with their premium Porsche and Audi brands. Red Bull have been linked with Porsche, while Audi are said to be looking to acquire a team of their own – although McLaren have rubbished talk that they could be purchased.
Horner: Porsche deal would be logical for Red Bull
Horner, who has led Red Bull Racing since 2005, believes a cooperation with Porsche could prove to be a wise decision for his team, as they look to build their own power units for 2026. "It is obviously great, the commitment that VW stated, as a parent company to both Porsche and Audi, that they've both got the intent of going into Formula 1," said Horner, speaking to select members of the media, including RacingNews365.com . "We've just started a new journey as a power unit manufacturer for 2026, so, of course, it would be logical for us to look at all discussions about a potential cooperation."
Red Bull tight-lipped over Porsche talks
For now, Horner maintains that there is nothing to report regarding any Red Bull negotiations with Porsche. However, Volkswagen have made clear that their push to enter F1 has now entered into a final evaluation phase, with FIA negotiations underway. "It's still very early days," Horner added of a potential tie-up. "There's nothing to report and, when there is, you guys (the media) will naturally be the first to know."
New teams will lead to conflict, predicts Horner
With Porsche, Audi and Andretti Global all looking for a route into F1, Horner is expecting conflict, with some current teams not willing to see the prize fund diluted further. Under the current Concorde Agreement, new teams will need to pay a $200 million entry fee to compensate their rivals for the prize fund being sliced into 11, not 10. "Money is ultimately going to be a significant factor," continued Horner. "I see a question, really for the promoter, that if they want more teams, they're obviously going to have to dilute their share of the fund, because it would be unfair to expect the other teams to pay for the additional new entrants to come in indirectly. "I think it's great that there's the interest from new brands, and a team like Andretti, a great name, but I think it's something that, with [F1 owner] Liberty [Media], it's their business model that they need to work out for the future."
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