Red Bull’s involvement in F1 and motorsport in general was largely the result of Mateschitz’s personal passion, inevitably guiding observers as to what might happen after his passing, given the huge continued investment required.
However, Horner insists the Austrian had put the pieces in place to secure the future of the Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri teams.
Horner said Mateschitz’s support for the Red Bull Powertrains project, which creates an all-new power unit for 2026 regulations, was a clear sign he had his eye on the long term.
“No, the future is set,” Horner said when asked if any changes would follow Mateschitz’s death. “He has laid a very solid foundation for the future.
“And in 2026, Red Bull became a power unit manufacturer that was the missing piece of our puzzle, and they had the vision to enable that to happen.
“And just as we did with the chassis, we will bring that same spirit, his spirit, into the future engine company.”
Christian Horner, Team Principal, Red Bull Racing, interviews Dietrich Mateschitz
Photo by: Al Staley / Motorsport Images
Horner continued, “He set that vision, and he was involved until last week. He had the vision and endorsed the plan for Red Bull Powertrains to prepare the team for the future, long term.
“And the commitment he has shown in that regard, and what he has enabled us to create in Milton Keynes puts Red Bull Racing in a very strong position for many, many years to come.”
Asked if a second world championship for Max Verstappen suggests F1 could enter a period of dominance for the team, Horner was wary.
“You can’t make predictions like that,” he said. “I mean, we’re up against some very tough competitors. We had a wonderful year this year, we have now broken all our own records in terms of wins and doubles, for example.
“And three more races to go. But you know, we have very, very competitive neighbors, and I’m sure they’ll come back strong next year.
