Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has disclosed that multiple Formula 1 outfits have expressed interest in the performance characteristics of his squad's newly developed power unit, amid persistent speculation about Aston Martin's future engine partnership.
According to Sky Sports, the FIA's earlier assessment that Red Bull possesses the most powerful engine on the grid has generated considerable attention across the paddock. That determination proved contentious, particularly given that Mercedes received permission to pursue an upgrade after falling more than two per cent behind Red Bull's internal combustion engine performance.
The 2026 season marks the inaugural campaign in which Red Bull, partnering with Ford, has manufactured its own power unit—an outcome few observers anticipated would yield competitive machinery from the outset. The contrast with Aston Martin's situation could hardly be starker, as the team's Honda power unit has proven problematic, leaving Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll battling predominantly in the lower reaches of the field.
Speculation has mounted that Aston Martin might explore alternative arrangements with Honda or potentially transition to a Red Bull-Ford power unit for future seasons. However, Mekies has tempered expectations about any such supply arrangement.
We got a lot of unwanted positive publicity about the performance of our engine, and that came with certainly attentions from a lot of teams,Mekies stated.
Are we having any serious conversations with anyone to supply another team? No, we don't think we are ready for that. Is it set in stone for the next five years? No, because I don't know what's going to happen in the next five years.
The Red Bull team principal emphasised that substantial refinement work remains necessary before any external supply arrangement could be contemplated.
We still have plenty of work to do to improve the power unit, refine its integration into the car and reach the level of the top competitors. Only then can we consider supplying another team alongside Racing Bulls. Nothing will change over the next year or so.
Mekies highlighted the remarkable achievement of the Red Bull-Ford Powertrains programme, which has progressed from essentially nothing in 2021 to fielding a competitive engine in its inaugural F1 season.
People realise it's a very good engine. However, we have our feet on the ground. We think it's better to concentrate on Red Bull and Racing Bulls,he told Sky Sports F1.
The team principal acknowledged the intensive operational demands required to maintain competitive machinery.
We are, at the moment, you may see the cars on track running smoothly but the reality is it's days and nights, very hard work for everyone back at Milton Keynes to keep the teams in a reasonable condition to run.
It's still the first year with all these challenges, so in the near future we will concentrate on these two teams.
According to Yahoo Sports, Mekies identified close power-unit and chassis integration as a fundamental reason Red Bull elected to construct its own engine rather than rely on an external supplier. This strategic decision appears to have yielded tangible benefits in competitive performance.
Aston Martin's Honda commitment
Despite the speculation surrounding alternative power unit options, Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack has reaffirmed the team's long-term commitment to Honda, indicating the partnership is expected to continue through their first victory together, according to Yahoo Sports.
Aston Martin has accumulated just seven points this season and currently occupies tenth position in the Constructors' Championship. Alonso suggested the team was positioned for a strong result at the recent Austin race before contact with Williams driver Alex Albon disrupted their efforts.
Notably, Honda reached its 500th race at the United States Grand Prix, a milestone that underscores the manufacturer's extensive history in motorsport despite current performance challenges.
Newey backs Honda's recovery prospects
Aston Martin's chief technical officer Adrian Newey has acknowledged that Honda's current deficit is evident but expressed optimism regarding the manufacturer's development trajectory.
Honda - there's a lot of energy and projects on the way now that perhaps are in their early stages of development, but we see a lot of promise from those,Newey remarked.
He cautioned against drawing premature conclusions about Honda's performance level heading into the 2027 season.
Too early to comment on exactly where the PU will be at the start of the season and whether then, assuming it's allowed under the PUAC [Power Unit Advisory Committee], there will be further development for what will be race eight at the end of the first period.
Honda's current struggles echo their challenging turbo-hybrid era partnering with McLaren between 2015 and 2017, when the manufacturer failed to produce a competitive engine. The partnership dissolved at the end of 2017, after which Honda supplied Toro Rosso, now known as Racing Bulls, beginning in 2018 and subsequently Red Bull from 2019 onwards.
During their inaugural season with Red Bull, Honda achieved a podium finish in the season-opener and Max Verstappen secured three victories, demonstrating the potential for rapid improvement under the right circumstances.
Newey contextualised Honda's current position within a longer developmental timeline.
At the moment, in all truth, Honda are a little bit behind where Red Bull, as the works team, Red Bull, picked up Honda in 2019. But that obviously was four seasons after they first came back in 2015. So, this is the first year back in.
They are a great company. I have every confidence that they will accelerate quickly and understand the problems of these particular PU regulations.
What happens next
Formula 1 continues its Americas swing with the Mexico City Grand Prix scheduled for October 30–November 1, 2026, according to Formula1.com. The race will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available through NOW without requiring a long-term contract.
