Red Bull taps Mercedes for future engine resources

Two weeks ago, Red Bull announced the arrival of the former head of mechanical engineering at Mercedes High Performance Powertrains (HPP). Last week, the Austrian team revealed the addition of five other key members to their new powertrain division, all coming from Mercedes’ engine department.

For Christian Horner, director of the Red Bull team, this recruitment strategy is notably due to the proximity of the two teams. In fact, the Austrian team wishes to develop power units on its campus in Milton Keynes. He expressed this to Sky Sports F1: « I believe it is inevitable for us to be based in the UK, we are only 30 miles from Brixworth where Mercedes has chosen to build its engines in the UK ».

« And they did it for a reason because talent is in the United Kingdom. I think that for us, bringing the engines on site, on campus, and fully integrating them into the chassis, is extremely attractive. Obviously, we have been very successful in attracting fantastic talents in addition to those we will inherit from Honda when they leave at the end of the year. »

We know that nothing is settled this season between Red Bull and Mercedes, who seem very close in terms of performance. For Horner, these recruitments are not a declaration of war off the track against his rival.

In the end, you can’t force someone to work where they don’t want to be. And if we are an attractive place and people see this competitive spirit and want to be part of it, they will make the trip,” added the director of Red Bull.

« You cannot force someone to work where they do not want to be »

The seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton, was also interviewed by Autosport during the press conference preceding the Spanish Grand Prix, about these various transfers lately between Red Bull and Mercedes. Following the total domination of the German team since the turbo-hybrid era, the British driver is not surprised that their talents are of interest to competitors, although he does not want to pay much attention to it.

« It’s not something I devote a lot of time to. There is obviously all of that in the background and I think I have the best ally in Toto [Wolff, Mercedes team principal], who will strive to manage this in the best possible way,” explains Lewis Hamilton.

Without a doubt, each individual who is part of our team is extraordinary and it is not surprising that everyone wants them. We have been very successful together. If there are people who have left, I wish them the best. We all have to follow our own path and make our own decisions, those that suit us.

« But it is a great team and it is not about one individual. Or even five. It is about a collective. And we have an amazing collective group that remains strong and focused to win this championship.