Since last week it is official: Audi enters the Formula 1. The goals are high. Within three years, the team wants to be up front the grid. Not an easy task, thinks Red Bull Racing team boss Christian Horner.
Horner believes Audi has a very long way to go, stating in AutoHebdo. According to the director of the Austrian team, Audi, like any new engine manufacturer, faces a host of challenges. First of all, Audi lacks the knowledge about hybrid engines that the current engine suppliers have. According to Horner, this know-how is not easily gained.
Money a problem
Moreover, money can be an issue. Ten million for the development of a completely new power source is not much, according to Horner. It is also difficult to build a factory from scratch that performs at the peak of its capabilities almost immediately.
The Briton took the example of his own company Red Bull Powertrains : "We did it in 55 weeks. We set up a factory and produced our first internal combustion engine, which is a huge achievement. There is still a long way to go in terms of production capacity. There are deadlines to meet, some of which are a bit unrealistic. I think as a newcomer it is a huge challenge to try and put yourself in a good starting position in terms of facilities."
Seems VW wants to do their own thing in F1. Thats interesting. Fortune favours the brave. If they can pull it off there will be a much bigger pot of marketing gold at the end of the tunnel for them. Gonna be tuff though without the know how from an experienced partner.
Audi have no pedigree in F1, it will be a big mountain for them.
It was known as Auto Union, and around 90 years since the last participation, any pedigree will be negligible.
Just to show that they are the champions and the last race was a P1-P2 . RB are in the top but they are looking for money everything moves on for more money
Yes, I think the Porsche deal may be dead in the water. If Horner's earlier comments are correct, RB want a cash investment for branding but wish to retain the development of the powerplant to themselves. I can't see VW going for this. If Audi is going to develop their own engine they will want to rebrand it as a Porsche for RB, not rely on RB to do the development. I suspect we will see Audi owning a controlling interest in Sauber and that will be that. And if their engine is good, others my lease.
Both, Porsche and Audi will develop their own own engine. At least it is what they have said so far. Both of them are already working on it separately.
But I don't know if it would be legal to rebrand the same engine and used by two different manufacturer at the same time. At least it is illegal for cars.
Audi said they will produce the engine in Germany. Very similar to what BMW has done with Sauber in the past; Engine = Germany, car = Switzerland.
For Porsche it is less obvious right now. Nobody, except Honda and RBR, is aware of last year's deal between Honda and RBR. I strongly doubt that Honda will allow RBR to sell it's Power train department to Porsche. I will be surprised if there's no such mention in the agreement between the two.
Time will tell.
I know that is what they said but in recent days Horner has contradicted this, saying they would keep their own engine plant and personnel. And I agree, it is unlikely to be sold. So this leaves, as Horner has stated, Porsche with an opportunity to brand a RB, formerly Honda, engine. Can't see that happening. I think you are completely correct with the Audi scenario. Personally, I think RB started down the Porsche avenue thinking they needed a works engine and as time has progressed, they realize they are able to produce a worthy engine with what they have and now have no interest in selling it back to anyone, but they are willing to take their money to brand it.
Why is Horner talking about Audi?
What is happening to RB joint venture with Porsche?
News seems to have gone pretty quiet in the past few weeks since the initial announcement just before the summer break.
@Mech Engineer +3316431-08-2022 12:28
There was a other message in between, actually two articles explaining the rumors now are it isn't going so great and Red Bull - Porsche is anything but a sure thing. Rumored that a possible new Honda deal is also on the table.
Horner is talking about Audi because he got asked for from his interviewer at AutoHebdo. Simple as that.
Like Kingpeppermint said, there have been articles about Porsche/RBR.
Why should RBR be in hurry to make any announcement to a deal that will be active on 2026?
RBR is in a great position right now. They can take the time they want in order to get the most out of the deal. Wherever it is going to be Porsche or Honda, or none of them.
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