Photo via The Race

Horner was congratulated by Red Bull bosses after F1 engine's wins

Christian Horner, Red Bull’s former team principal, has received recognition from the company’s leadership following the team’s breakthrough success with its newly developed in-house engine. The Red Bull Powertrains division—originally created to take over Honda’s exiting F1 power units but later evolving into an independent manufacturer—delivered its first race-winning engine under the 2026 technical regulations.

The unit proved highly competitive almost immediately, with Max Verstappen securing victories in both the Bahrain Grand Prix and the subsequent sprint and main races in Singapore, marking its first wins in just its 16th Grand Prix outing. Horner, who played a key role in securing approval for the Powertrains project, was personally thanked by Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff and the team’s majority shareholders after the Singapore triumph, despite his strained relationship with Mintzlaff during his tenure as team principal.

Reflecting on the achievement, Horner acknowledged the boldness of the venture, which initially faced skepticism within the organization, and credited the late co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz for backing the high-risk initiative. The project’s success has positioned Red Bull Powertrains as a major player in F1’s future, with the team now focused on replicating its chassis dominance in engine development.

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