Christian Horner receives congratulations from Red Bull’s majority shareholders and CEO Oliver Mintzlaff following Bahrain and Singapore wins with the team’s first in‑house Red Bull Powertrains engine.

Red Bull formed Red Bull Powertrains after Honda’s 2021 exit, initially to run legacy hardware before evolving into a full manufacturer for the 2026 rules cycle.

The new power unit proves competitive immediately. Under 2026 Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities metrics, some rate its internal combustion engine as class‑leading.

It claims a first win at the 16th attempt when Max Verstappen wins the Bahrain Grand Prix. He follows up seven days later by winning the sprint and main race in Singapore.

Despite a previously strained relationship, Horner says Mintzlaff acknowledges his role. Speaking on The Race F1 Podcast, he adds shareholders independently thanked him after those results.

Horner explains Red Bull has changed since chairman Dietrich Mateschitz’s passing, yet the business continues to grow and professionalise.

He recalls Mateschitz as unafraid of risk. Replicating Red Bull’s chassis excellence on the power unit side becomes the group’s next strategic challenge.

Horner labels the Powertrains project a “harebrained idea” embraced by Mateschitz and co‑owner Chalerm Yoovidhya, despite internal doubts. A former bubble‑wrap factory becomes a functioning engine plant within 55 weeks.

He describes the power unit’s debut as among his greatest achievements at Red Bull. In its first season, the engine is widely judged best‑performing and delivers victory at the 16th outing.

Horner stresses execution basics: the right people, culture, and clear targets underpin the step.

His tenure ends after the July 2025 British Grand Prix amid internal power struggles and a personal scandal that yields no wrongdoing findings. He resists reduced responsibilities, fearing diluted leadership, and details his leadership and challenges from that period.

Horner says he maintains strong relationships with shareholders and reflects positively on 90% of his tenure. He has also argued for a cost‑cap and budget rethink to preserve competitive balance as F1 evolves.

His memoir, Drive, is scheduled for October 2026 publication, promising further insight into his methods and setbacks, with more career reflections already previewed in recent reporting.

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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.