Horner dismisses links to former Mercedes engine chief

Christian Horner has dismissed speculation that former Mercedes High Performance Powertrains managing director Andy Cowell has joined Red Bull's own engine project.

Cowell, who joined Mercedes in 2004 and led the development of the team’s title-winning engines, left last year to “seek a new engineering challenge" although consulted for the team until earlier this year.

Rumours have now linked him to the new Red Bull project, which will run the team’s existing Honda power units while developing an all-new unit ready for the new regulations later this decade.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner refused to be drawn on the rumours but said: “Obviously, there is a lot of media traction on these topics and personnel joining this new venture.

“I can say I was surprised to see the story this morning that apparently Andy has agreed to join us because that isn't the case."

Red Bull has already recruited 15 staff from Mercedes for the new project so far, including HPP's ex-head of mechanical engineering Ben Hodgkinson as the new Technical Director.

Cowell is now a free agent but Wolff still speaks to him “every week” and when asked about the situation he said: “For me, it doesn’t seem that he is going to Red Bull but in this sport, we have seen many black swans.

“At the moment what I think is he is not going there. It would be a great surprise [if he did leave] because it would mean it is different to what we have discussed.

“But there is nothing stopping him from taking any decision whether he continues on his entrepreneurial journey or returns to Formula One in a different role.”

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