The end of negotiations is a blow not only to Red Bull, but to Formula 1 as a whole.
- A proposed deal between Red Bull and Porsche would have led to Porsche supplying power units to Red Bull Racing beginning in 2026.
- Porsche desired an equal stake in the company that operates the race team.
- Porsche reportedly wanted the team rebranded as Red Bull-Porsche, rather than just joining as a power unit provider.
The proposed partnership between Porsche Motorsport and Red Bull Racing in Formula 1 from 2026 has collapsed.
Red Bull has been in discussion for a prolonged period with Porsche over linking up in anticipation of the new power unit regulations that will come into force in 2026. However, as negotiations continued there were differences between the wants of the respective parties.
Red Bull, which last year formed Red Bull Powertrains and has retained an affiliation with erstwhile supplier Honda, wanted to keep hold of the independence it has had since joining Formula 1 in 2005.
Speaking after Sunday’s Dutch Grand Prix, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner emphasized that stance, saying, “We’re an independent team, and that’s part of the DNA. The powertrain is a different challenge, and of course if there was a partner to potentially work with that would make logical sense. The team is the biggest marketing asset globally for Red Bull, why would we compromise that strategically for the long-term?”
But Porsche desired an equal stake in the company that operates the race team, in effect becoming Red Bull-Porsche, rather than just joining as a power unit provider.
The respective disagreements could not be remedied, emerging more publicly in recent weeks as Red Bull applied pressure that any deal would be on its terms, and Porsche issued a statement Friday outlining the collapse of talks.
“In the course of the last few months, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG and Red Bull GmbH have held talks on the possibility of Porsche’s entry into Formula 1,” read a statement. “The two companies have now jointly come to the conclusion that these talks will no longer be continued. The premise was always that a partnership would be based on an equal footing, which would include not only an engine partnership but also the team. This could not be achieved.”
Porsche has nevertheless kept the door open to joining Formula 1 in 2026.
“With the finalized rule changes, the racing series nevertheless remains an attractive environment for Porsche, which will continue to be monitored,” concluded a statement.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.
ANPGetty Images
A route for Porsche outside of the Red Bull path remains unclear, as it has for several months been putting all its eggs in Red Bull’s basket, and that proposed collaboration is now off the table. It is also a setback for Formula 1, as while Porsche remains interested in entering, there is a risk that a major brand cannot find a way into the championship.
Formula 1 strived to entice new entrants for 2026 with a range of cost-cutting measures and attractive technological tweaks, and Porsche has been the most public of that ambition.
Audi, which also falls under the Volkswagen Group umbrella, announced two weeks ago that it will enter Formula 1 as a power unit supplier from 2026. Audi is expected to acquire a majority stake in Sauber Motorsport, which currently competes as Alfa Romeo Racing, to effectively take over the team ownership by 2026.
Porsche is not believed to have the same infrastructure as Audi to construct a power unit, hence its desire to buy into Red Bull’s Powertrains operation, with time rapidly ticking away before the new regulations in 2026.
Keyword: Why Porsche, Red Bull Pull Plug on 2026 F1 Engine Deal