Red Bull Powertrains

Red Bull Powertrains, abbreviated as RBPT, is a Formula One power unit manufacturing company owned by the Austrian Red Bull GmbH and based in the United Kingdom. The company was formed in 2021 to take over the operation of Formula One power units developed by Honda from 2022 onwards following the Japanese manufacturer's withdrawal from the sport after 2021. However, Honda continued to support the Red Bull owned teams in 2022 and will do so until the end of 2025.[2][3][4] Honda assembles the power units and provides trackside and race operation support. The power units remain Honda's intellectual property, and due to a development freeze, Red Bull Powertrains will not develop them.[5][6]

Red Bull Powertrains
FoundedFebruary 2021 (February 2021)[1]
FoundersHelmut Marko
Christian Horner
HeadquartersMilton Keynes, England
Key people
Christian Horner
Ben Hodgkinson
Websiteredbullpowertrains.com
Red Bull Powertrains as a Formula One engine manufacturer
Formula One World Championship career
First entry2022 Bahrain Grand Prix
Last entry2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Races entered22 (22 starts)
ChassisRed Bull Racing, AlphaTauri
Constructors' Championships1 (2022)
Drivers'
Championships		1 (2022)
Race victories17
Podiums28
Points794
Pole positions8
Fastest laps8

Red Bull Powertrains will take full responsibility for engine supply and operations from 2026, when the company will be renamed to "Red Bull Ford Powertrains", following a partnership with Ford Motor Company.[7][8][9] Red Bull Powertrains operates in a 5,000-square-foot facility adjacent to the Red Bull Racing chassis department in Milton Keynes.[10]

History

In February 2021, Red Bull Advanced Technologies signed an exclusive distribution agreement for Formula One engines with Honda to start in the 2022 season, after the Japanese automaker left Formula One at the end of the 2021 season.[11] The engines will be purchased and renamed Red Bull Powertrains, and supplied to its two teams currently competing in Formula One, Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri, starting in 2022.[12]

On 23 April 2021 Red Bull Powertrains announced the hiring of Ben Hodgkinson as technical director.[13][14] Hodgkinson had been head of mechanical engineering at Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains since 2017, and had worked at the Brixworth factory for 20 years.[15][16] On 6 May 2021, Red Bull Racing announced the hiring of five more senior Mercedes engine employees: Steve Blewett (who will be the production director of the Red Bull power unit), Omid Mostaghimi (chief engine, electronics and energy recovery), Pip Clode (head of mechanical design for energy recovery), Anton Mayo (head of combustion power unit design) and Steve Brodie (leader of combustion engine operations).[17][18] On 2 October 2022, Honda announced the extension of their technical support to Red Bull Racing until 2025. Honda's agreement with Red Bull Racing does not involve power unit development.[2] Honda's logo will also appear on Red Bull Racing's and AlphaTauri's car from the 2022 Japanese Grand Prix onwards.[19]

On 3 February 2023, Red Bull Racing and Ford Motor Company announced a strategic partnership that will see Ford return to Formula One in 2026 following new engine regulations. Ford will provide "expertise in areas including battery cell and electric motor technology as well as power unit control software and analytics" and "combustion engine development," and the company will be renamed to "Red Bull Ford Powertrains."[7][20][21]

RBPT001

The RBPT001 was, despite its name, developed, produced, and maintained by Honda. It was a derivative of the Honda RA621H, with different ignition timing, cylinder pressure, and MGU-H to account for the new E10 fuels. The crankshaft and cylinder block geometry were also modified to ensure reliability when running on E10 fuels, and a specialised coating developed by Honda's motorcycle division was applied to the walls of the cylinders. The injection system, exhaust, and the turbocharger's compressor and turbine were all optimised for E10 fuel. The changes meant that the RBPTH001 weighed more than the RA621H, but the dimensions of the engines are virtually identical save for the exhaust and intake layout and the electrical components. The new engine could also run at noticeably higher temperatures compared to the RA621H. Despite the reduced energy density of the 2022 fuels, the RBPTH001 had greater thermal efficiency than its predecessor.[5]

Formula One engine results

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Points WCC
2022 BHR SAU AUS EMI MIA ESP MON AZE CAN GBR AUT FRA HUN BEL NED ITA SIN JPN USA MXC SAP ABU
Oracle Red Bull Racing RB18 RBPTH001 1.6 V6 t Mexico Sergio Pérez 18† 4P 2 23 4 2F 1 2F Ret 2 Ret5 4 5 2 5 6F 1 2 4 3 75 3 759 1st
Netherlands Max Verstappen 19† 1 Ret 1P 1 F 1F 1 3 1 1P 7 2P 1 F 1 1 1F 1PF 1 7 1P 1 1P 64 1P
Scuderia AlphaTauri AT03 France Pierre Gasly Ret 8 9 12 Ret 13 11 5 14 Ret 15 12 12 9 11 8 10 18 14 11 14 14 35 9th
Japan Yuki Tsunoda 8 DNS 15 7 12 10 17 13 Ret 14 16 Ret 19 13 Ret 14 Ret 13 10 Ret 17 11
Source:[22]
Notes
  • † – Retired before completion, but classified as more than 90% of the race distance was completed.

References
  1. "Where Red Bull's Ford deal leaves Honda for F1 2026". The Race. 3 February 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  2. "Honda and Red Bull extend power unit support deal until 2025". www.formula1.com. 2 August 2022.
  3. "Honda to continue Red Bull technical support deal to the end of 2025". BBC Sport. 2 August 2022.
  4. "Red Bull and Honda extend technical partnership until 2025". ESPN. 2 August 2022.
  5. "Red Bull agrees Honda engine IP use, reveals post-2021 plan". The Race. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  6. "Red Bull and Honda outline F1 collaboration plans from 2022". Motorsport.com. 8 October 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  7. "Ford announces F1 return in 2026 with Red Bull". ESPN.com. 3 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  8. "Ford announce new technical partnership with Red Bull for 2026 and beyond". www.formula1.com. 3 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  9. "Ford Partners With Red Bull in Return to Formula One". The New York Times. 3 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  10. "Red Bull Is Taking Control of its Power". The New York Times. 30 September 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  11. Pryson, Mike (15 February 2021). "Red Bull F1 Forms Powertrain Company, Will Keep Honda Technology". Autoweek. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  12. "Red Bull and Honda reveal collaboration plans after engine supplier withdraws at end of 2021". www.formula1.com. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  13. "Red Bull recruit senior engineer from championship rivals Mercedes". The Guardian. 23 April 2021.
  14. "Red Bull hire Ben Hodgkinson from Mercedes to lead new powertrains division in sign of 'long-term intent'". Sky Sports. 24 April 2021.
  15. "Mercedes engine head Hodgkinson to join Red Bull in May after teams agree release date". www.formula1.com. 21 January 2022.
  16. "Red Bull, Mercedes reach agreement over F1 engine chief". Motorsport.com. 22 January 2022.
  17. "Red Bull poach five key figures from Mercedes in technical shake-up". The Independent. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  18. "Formula 1: Red Bull poach five Mercedes engineers for in-house engine facility". BBC Sport. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  19. "Honda logo to return to Red Bull and AlphaTauri cars from Japanese GP onwards | Formula 1®". www.formula1.com. 5 October 2022.
  20. "Ford to rejoin Formula One from 2026 season in Red Bull partnership". The Guardian. 3 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  21. "Horner explains why Red Bull opted to partner with Ford instead of 'incredible company' Honda for 2026". www.formula1.com. 3 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  22. "RBPT – Grands Prix started". StatsF1. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
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