Christian Horner suggests Porsche got ‘a little bit ahead of themselves’

With news of the collapse of a Red Bull-Porsche link-up, Christian Horner has suggested the car manufacturer got a “little bit ahead of themselves” wanting a 50 per cent stake in Red Bull Technology.

That, the team had previously stated, was never going to happen.

Porsche have long been linked to a move into Formula 1 as an engine partner, the team said to be closing in on a deal with Red Bull Racing.

However, even after Formula 1 confirmed the 2026 engine regulations that were expected to pave the way for Porsche’s entry, it never came.

Instead, Porsche announced on Friday the talks with Red Bull had collapsed, the statement saying “the two companies have now jointly come to the conclusion 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.”

Horner says that is because it was never on the cards.

“Big organisations, obviously they need significant planning,” said the Red Bull team principal. “And I think perhaps they were slightly getting a little bit ahead of themselves.

“But there was never a binding commitment signed between the parties. That must have been subjective on their part.”

In fact, Red Bull had made it clear all along they did not want to be owned by a manufacturer, they wanted to remain Red Bull.

“One of our core strengths has been our independence and our quick decision-making and lack of bureaucracy,” he said.

“We are a race team fundamentally and that enables us to make quick decisions, effective decisions, and react very quickly as a race team.

“We’ve seen on so many occasions manufacturers have been less autonomous in their decision-making.

“And that was a key aspect of protecting what we have and how we operate.”

Porsche have issued a statement to say their talks about an #F1 partnership with Red Bull are over.https://t.co/zD1Oel6BQm

— PlanetF1 (@Planet_F1) September 9, 2022

Horner says whether or not one day Red Bull Technologies do sell a 50% stake in the company to a manufacturer will be decided by the shareholders.

But for now, it is not happening.

“Well, obviously there was an expression of interest,” he told The Race.

“The shareholders obviously considered it and decided that wasn’t right for Red Bull Racing, Red Bull Technology or Red Bull Powertrains.”