Christian Horner: 'Hurt and Robbed' by Missing Red Bull’s Powertrain Milestone

Christian Horner has expressed a deep sense of loss over missing the operational debut of Red Bull's first in-house power unit. Despite his pivotal role in conceptualizing and establishing Red Bull Powertrains, Horner's dismissal in July 2025 left him on the sidelines during the project's most critical transition from the factory to the track.

Why it matters:

This is more than a missed event; it is about the culmination of a professional legacy. Horner oversaw the team's growth from 400 to 2,200 employees and championed the "disruptor" mentality that led Red Bull to manufacture its own engine—a move previously considered an unthinkable risk for a team without a traditional automotive lineage.

The Details:

• The Project: The DM-01 engine, named in honor of late owner Dietrich Mateschitz, officially hit the track in January 2026 after a development cycle that began in 2021.
• Strategic Shift: The project involved transitioning from Honda's upkeep to a full-scale manufacturing partnership with Ford.
• Immediate Success: The engine's potential was validated recently when Max Verstappen secured both pole position and the victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
• Lingering Ties: Despite his exit, Horner remains in contact with the camp, having exchanged messages with Verstappen following the historic win.

Between the lines:

Horner's use of the words "hurt and robbed" suggests a lingering tension between his statistical achievements—124 wins and 14 championships—and the abrupt nature of his departure. By focusing on the RBPT project, he signals that the emotional weight of this specific milestone outweighed the broader success of his tenure, viewing the DM-01 as his final, unfinished masterpiece.

The Big Picture:

As Red Bull navigates the 2026 season, the team's internal culture appears to be evolving. Horner observes that while the "maverick" spirit enabled the creation of the DM-01, the organization's current direction has shifted away from the nonconformist approach that defined his era, marking the end of an aggressive, boundary-pushing epoch at Milton Keynes.