Red Bull Confirms Timeline to Cease F1 Car Development

Newsweek

2 days ago

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Red Bull Racing senior advisor Helmut Marko has confirmed that a decision will be taken during the race weekend at Silverstone or Spa Francorchamps to halt the development of the 2025 RB21 F1 car. As Formula One approaches a new era of regulations in 2026, teams will have to juggle between the development of two cars this year.
2026 marks the year when F1 cars will be very different from the cars of the current ground effect era as new regulations will be introduced. Apart from being lighter and smaller with active aerodynamics, the new car will run on 50 percent electric power for the first time in the sport's storied history. The other half will be powered by an internal combustion unit running on sustainable fuels.
However, given F1's budget cap rule, which limits how much teams can spend on the development of their cars in a given year, all outfits will have to carefully balance the development of both cars. Thus, choosing the perfect moment to shift focus from the 2025 car to the 2026 car will be most crucial.
Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen stops in pit lane during the third practice session for the 2025 Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada, on June 14, 2025....
Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen stops in pit lane during the third practice session for the 2025 Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada, on June 14, 2025. More
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images
Red Bull has partnered with Ford under the Red Bull Powertrains banner to develop engines for the new era, and Marko has admitted that a decision will likely be made next month to decide the developmental cut-off point. Speaking to Kleine Zeitung ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix race weekend, he said:
"There's a precise allocation of how the wind tunnel and all the tools are used. At some point, however, they'll say: 'Okay, that's it for further development'. For two reasons: time - and the production of new parts takes time - and the cost cap.
"So the question is: Where do you allocate your resources?
"I assume after Silverstone or Spa at the latest, there will be a decision to focus entirely on the new car."
A new regulatory era means it is tough to predict which team will have the most powerful and reliable power unit. Marko revealed details of Red Bull's progress and addressed Mercedes' power unit claim. He said:
"Mercedes has declared itself the favorite, but there's no evidence of that. The development of the combustion engine alone is incredible. The engine is smaller than the one in my lawnmower! There are three or four things that are important for the new car: the combustion engine.
"We're on board with that, and unless there are durability issues, it won't be a game-changer. The battery is crucial; we're starting with a conventional solution for that, and gasoline is a very important factor. Development in this area is going very well with our partner Exxon."