McLaren laud Red Bull for taking “brave” power unit gamble
McLaren laud Red Bull for taking “brave” power unit gamble
McLaren team principal Zak Brown believes rival Red Bull is “very brave” to take on the challenge of running its own powertrain from 2025.
When Red Bull's current engine partner Honda announced last year it would leave F1 at the end of this season it left the team scrambling to find an alternative supplier.
With none of the existing manufacturers keen to align with the team, Red Bull chose to go its own way and is now in the process of developing a factory and recruiting staff.
"I think their decision is very brave [but] I think it definitely could be successful," said Brown.
“Red Bull is a great racing organisation with lots of resources. I think had the engine freeze not been put in place I am not sure they would have taken on the project.
“It would have just required tonnes of continued development resources that would probably have pushed that over the edge of fiscally feasible. I think it is good we got to a place where the rules are slowing down the spend.”
Red Bull announced plans last month for a new division - Red Bull Powertrains - and has broken ground on the construction of an all-new facility which will become its centre of operation.
The team will retain existing Honda staff to manage the current engine project, and while the plan at present is for the engine to be rebadged as Red Bull, the possibility of ultimately linking up with Porsche or Audi has not been ruled out.
While McLaren manufactures road-going supercars, it will not be considering a similar homegrown engine approach as Red Bull.
“I don't see McLaren doing engines any time soon," added Brown. "I don't think Red Bull would have moved into this engine space had this opportunity to take off where Honda left had not presented itself.
“It is not without risk. I think bringing on an organisation like that and hundreds of employees. That is a lot of work to add to your plate.
"That being said, they appear to be hiring a lot of very talented people. I wouldn't be surprised if it was successful."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Audi agree STAR driver contract as Mercedes driver tipped for new F1 seat THIS season - GPFans F1 Recap
- 2 hours ago
Ferrari show off new-look drivers following HUGE announcement
- 3 hours ago
McLaren leading fight for HUGE cash injection
- Yesterday 21:57
Newey set to announce STUNNING Red Bull departure
- Yesterday 17:57
Newey Red Bull exit wish CONFIRMED as F1 guru's reasons revealed
- Yesterday 20:57
F1 legend reveals 'FLOOD' of death threats after controversial decision
- Yesterday 19:57
Related news
McLaren leading fight for HUGE cash injection
Horner reveals 'unhuman' Verstappen secret
Red Bull already sending parts to F1 race MONTHS away
Schumacher reveals what F1 pundits are NOT allowed to say about Red Bull
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860