Christian Horner: Red Bull will build Formula 1 cars by 2026

The Red Bull Racing team's headquarters are in Milton Keynes in England, the team based in the British city since 1990 when it still operated as Stewart Grand Prix under the leadership of Sir Jackie Stewart.

But given that up until this season Red Bull ran Honda engines, those designed and built in Japan until Honda withdrew from Formula 1 and handed the IP and know-how to Red Bull's brand new Powertrain division, only the chassis was built at the team's factory.

"We're bringing the whole car here on site at Milton Keynes," he told the BBC.

He added that Red Bull will "be the only team other than Ferrari in Maranello [Italy] that has engine and chassis all produced on one site.

"We'll have engine designers and chassis designers sitting side-by-side, so absolute vertical integration of those disciplines.

"I think for Milton Keynes, for the UK, to have that based here, is testimony to the skill set that is in the area and the talent we're able to attract."

Red Bull created the Red Bull Powertrain Division following Honda's withdrawal at the end of the 2021 season, the team signing several key figures from Mercedes.

That list included highly-respected engineer Phil Prew as well as Ben Hodgkinson, head of mechanical engineering at the Brixworth factory who had spent 20 years with Mercedes.

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko was quoted in April as saying "something like" 50 people had left Mercedes to join Red Bull Powertrains.

The team's plan is for the engine to be built in Milton Keynes by 2026, Horner saying that "in engine terms it is tomorrow.

"We've got 36-and-a-half months to produce an all-new engine and take on Ferrari, Mercedes, Renault and Audi that'll be coming into the sport.

"So it's a huge challenge for us, but I think with the right people, with the right tools, with the right culture and approach, we can hopefully produce similar to what we have with the chassis."

Red Bull are pushing on with plans for their own power unit despite Honda Racing president Koji Watanabe saying they may be back on the grid come 2026.

"As HRC, we have registered as a PU manufacturer after 2026," confirmed Watanabe during Honda's 2023 Motor Sports Activity Plan Presentation, as quoted by the Japanese subsidiary of Motorsport.com.

"The F1 regulations from 2026 onwards are moving in the direction of carbon neutrality. In addition, the fact that electrification is also being promoted, and the carbon neutrality and electrification that Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is promoting, is the same. The targets match."