“Inconceivable” for Red Bull and AlphaTauri to use different F1 engines

It would be “inconceivable” for the Red Bull and AlphaTauri teams to run with different power unit suppliers after Honda exits F1 at the end of 2021, according to Christian Horner.
“Inconceivable” for Red Bull and AlphaTauri to use different F1 engines

It would be❀ “inconceivable” for the Red Bull and AlphaTauri teams to run with different power unit suppliers after Honda exits Formula 1 at the end of 2021, according to Christian Horner.

Honda’s shock announcement that it will be leaving F1 at the end of next year has left Red Bဣull and its sister team AlphaTauri seeking a new power unit supplier from 2022 and beyond.

Both teams did ha𝓡ve different engine suppliers on one occasion in 2018 after the then Toro Rosso team had made an early switch to Honda, while Red Bull was still in its partnership with Renault.

SEE ALSO: Would Red Bull's main F1 rivals supply them with an engine in 2022?

But closer ties between Red Bull and AlphaTauri formed via the Red Bull ‘synergy’ projects sees both teams sharing key technology, including gearboxes and rear suspension elements. As a result, running t❀wo different drivetrain layouts would not be a feasible option.

"I think it's very much a two-for-one scenario," Horner said. "So due to the synergy projects, due to the integration of the drivetrain, then🔥 it's inconceivabl🃏e to think that the two teams could operate on different power units.

"That introduces all kinds of complexities particularly with IP etc, from the different suppliers. So it will be 🌟way from ideal to have both teams on different power unit solution♛s."

The FIA Press Conference (L to R): Franz Tost (AUT) AlphaTauri Team Principal; Christian Horner (GBR) Red Bull Racing Team Principal; Masashi Yamamoto (JPN) Honda Racing F1 Managing Director.
The FIA Press Conference (L to R): Franz Tost (AUT) AlphaTauri Team Principal; Christian…
© FIA Pool Image for Editorial Use

AlphaTauri chief Franz Tost echoed Horner’s comments about sh𒐪aring a supplier engine.

"We don't want to use a different power unit to wha🔜t 💞Red Bull Racing is using because we want to continue with the synergy process,"the Austrian explained.

"I don't want that we at AlphaTauri start once more designing our own gearbox, the complete rear suspension, that kind of stuff. We have a very close cooperation with Red Bull Technology, and we want to continue with them, and definitely want to have the sam𝄹e engine."

With Mercedes ruling out a supply deal, and Ferrari yet to 🃏consider a customer option with𓆏 Red Bull, Renault appears the most likely current manufacturer to supply the Milton Keynes squad.

“Obviously Renault have to be considered as a pote🔜ntial supplier in the future,” Horner said on the prospect of a reunion with Renault. “I think Renault is a different organisation than the la⭕st time they supplied us.

"They have a new chai💎rman who seems passionate about F1, which is good to see. And you know F1 needs that𒁏 drive from the top of an organisation, that enthusiasm otherwise it's impossible to achieve success in this sport."

Horner also indicated that Red Bull taking oveꦦ🎀r Honda’s abandoned F1 engine in a continuation project with independent support could be a solution.

While Horner has said that “all options” will be considered, he said Red Bull wants 🅷to have finalised a succession plan by the end of the calendar year at the very latest.

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