What’s next for Porsche and Red Bull after collapsed F1 deal

Porsche was ready to wed itself to Red Bull for 10 years by partnering with the runaway 2022 F1 championship leader’s engine programme and buying a 50% share of its race team. The union was mooted to be announced at the Austrian Grand Prix in early July before the FIA delayed the final wording of the 2026 power unit regulations. Soon came Moroccan legal documents that stated a 4 August date for the deal to be formally announced, only the day came and went.

Prior to the August summer break, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner began to press home how important it was for any new stakeholder to fit the outfit’s “philosophy and DNA” and declared a process of evaluation still awaited. Then at Spa, Audi unexpectedly leapfrogged its sister Volkswagen Group manufacturer to announcing its 2026 F1 participation (initially revealing its plans to build an engine only, with news of its investment in the Sauber operation to follow later this year).

As negotiations stuttered over how the two parties would collaborate – Motorsport.com understands this was largely down to Porsche wanting to take a more hands-on role than Red Bull desired plus the extra commercial and PR commitments – their discussions then collapsed completely. Given Red Bull’s current form, it not wanting to compromise its current approach is objectively logical.

On the Friday morning of the Italian GP weekend, Porsche finally confirmed the marriage was off. Its short statement read: “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. 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. With the finalised rule changes, the racing series nevertheless remains an attractive environment for Porsche, which will continue to be monitored.”

Horner, meanwhile, told Motorsport.com: “Porsche is a great brand. But the DNA is quite different. During the discussion process it became clear that there was a strategic non-alignment.

“Red Bull has demonstrated what it’s capable of in F1. And obviously, as an independent team and now engine manufacturer we look forward to go to competing against the OEMs with the powertrain as well as the chassis.”