‘Embarrassing' Christian Horner bomb explodes on Red Bull
Horner was sensationally axed from the team in early July after he had spent 20 years with the team.
Red Bull's on track struggles have seen the usual powerhouse drop to fourth in the 2025 constructors' standings, behind McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes.
But their pain could get even worse next season when rule changes to Formula 1 engines come into play.
From 2026 onwards engines must have 50 per cent electrification, fully sustainable fuels and active aerodynamics.
Now a Horner truth bomb could come back to bite the team.
Red Bull's long-running engine partnership with Honda is set to end this season with the team moving to producing its own engines, working in collaboration with Ford.
Horner however warned the move would prove to be the biggest challenge the team has faced since it entered the world of Formula 1.
Speaking to media ahead of the British Grand Prix, Horner conceded that it would be 'embarrassing' for Mercedes or 'any manufacturer' if RBPT-Ford produced a better engine in 2026.
In an interview with PlanetF1 last year, the former Red Bull boss admitted it's highly unlikely the team will be able to compete with both Ferrari and Mercedes.
'The mountain that we have to climb is immense, but, with the right spirit, and the right quality people that we have within the business, it will be achievable.
'It's by far the biggest challenge that we've taken on in Formula 1.'
To make matters even worse for Red Bull, Honda have shut the door on any potential reunion if the project with Ford fails.
'That is not possible at all,' Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe said to Auto Sport Web.
'Even if we were asked to do it now, it would be too late to make it in time for 2026.
'The chances are zero.'
If potential engine struggles weren't enough, Red Bull could be without four-time champion Max Verstappen.
Rumours have been swirling for weeks that Verstappen is eyeing off a bombshell move to join Mercedes from 2026 onwards.
Despite being contracted until the end of 2028, it was reported that Ola Kallenius, Mercedes' chief executive, had given his tick of approval for the team to sign Verstappen.
Mercedes are being tipped as the early frontrunner for when the new regulations come into play next season which could also be one of the reasons behind a potential Verstappen switch.
It's believed Verstappen's contract with Red Bull contains a clause that could allow him to walk free at the end of the season.
The exit clause can reportedly be activated if Verstappen is lower than fourth in the Drivers' Championship after the Hungarian Grand Prix on August 3, according to Planet F1.
Verstappen is currently third on the drivers' standings with 165 points, George Russell sits in fourth on 147 points.
With two races set to take place before the summer break, all eyes will be on the standings and where Verstappen sits.
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CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. It hasn't released any performance figures, charging rates or dimensions, but the N-One e is almost certain to be under 3.4m long and produce less than 47kW from a single electric motor, per Japanese kei car regulations. As is often the case with Japanese kei cars, the N-One e has a boxy shape and 'friendly' styling. "She's so adorable you'll want to call her your partner," reads Honda's website. "The electric N-One has a face that makes you feel attached to it. You'll want to talk to it every day, asking, 'How are you doing?'" Honda has used recycled materials in parts of the N-One e. The grille, for example, is made from discarded bumpers, while the carpeting and insulation is made from materials like PET bottles and old employees' work clothes. The interior is simple and versatile. The 50:50-split rear seats fold flat, while it appears you can shuffle between the front seats without snagging yourself on a console. A recessed shelf also runs along the dashboard, with USB outlets located just above it to make it a handy spot to put your phone. There's a free-standing infotainment touchscreen, as well as plenty of physical switchgear including for the climate control. The basic layout is similar to the N-Van e, a kei-class electric van launched late last year. However, it appears more plush inside. The N-Van e offers 245km of WLTP range. Its single electric motor produces 47kW and 162Nm, while its battery can be charged at up to 50kW on DC power and up to 6kW on AC power. Pricing hasn't been announced for the N-One e yet, but the N-Van e starts at ¥2,699,400 (~A$27,800) while offering front, front-side and curtain airbags, a heated driver's seat and a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, as well as active safety technology like autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist. It measures just 3395mm long, 1475mm wide and 1960mm tall. ABOVE: Honda N-Van e The N-One e joins Honda's N series of kei cars, which also includes the petrol-powered N-One, N-Box, N-Wgn and N-Van. Honda says the N-One e "inherits the endearing exterior design, spacious interior space, and easy handling" of the N360, one of the brand's first vehicles which was launched in 1967. While the N-One e goes up against a growing contingent of electric kei cars – which includes the Nissan Sakura and Mitsubishi eK X twins, as well as potentially at some point a rival from BYD – it's unlikely to come here. ABOVE, from left: Honda e:Ny1, Prologue, Ye P7, Afeela 1 Mitsubishi said it looked at importing the eK X, only to find it would be "uneconomic" to sell it here without modifying it to meet Australian Design Rules (ADRs). The company argued these federal regulations were a hindrance, as the eK X met Japanese type approval and safety requirements there. The closest thing to these vehicles is the Hyundai Inster city EV, launched here this year with a base price of $39,000 before on-road costs. It's larger, measuring 3825mm long, and has up to 84kW of power and 360km of range depending on the variant. Honda doesn't offer any EVs in Australia, despite selling a growing EV lineup in China, a couple in Japan, one in Europe, and the Prologue in North America that uses a General Motors (GM) platform. It has also established a joint venture with Sony to produce EVs under the Afeela brand. The company's Australian arm said in 2024 that its first EV would be released here before 2028. MORE: Everything Honda Content originally sourced from: Honda has revealed its N-One e, a pint-size electric vehicle (EV) offering almost 300km of range and the ability to supply power to your home. While the company has released images of the N-One e ahead of its launch in the northern Autumn (September to November), it has released little in the way of specifications. Honda has confirmed it offers 270km of range on the WLTC cycle – one of the cycles used in WLTP testing – and vehicle-to-load (V2L) and vehicle-to-home (V2H) charging functionality, as well as a one-pedal drive mode. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. It hasn't released any performance figures, charging rates or dimensions, but the N-One e is almost certain to be under 3.4m long and produce less than 47kW from a single electric motor, per Japanese kei car regulations. As is often the case with Japanese kei cars, the N-One e has a boxy shape and 'friendly' styling. "She's so adorable you'll want to call her your partner," reads Honda's website. "The electric N-One has a face that makes you feel attached to it. You'll want to talk to it every day, asking, 'How are you doing?'" Honda has used recycled materials in parts of the N-One e. The grille, for example, is made from discarded bumpers, while the carpeting and insulation is made from materials like PET bottles and old employees' work clothes. The interior is simple and versatile. The 50:50-split rear seats fold flat, while it appears you can shuffle between the front seats without snagging yourself on a console. A recessed shelf also runs along the dashboard, with USB outlets located just above it to make it a handy spot to put your phone. There's a free-standing infotainment touchscreen, as well as plenty of physical switchgear including for the climate control. The basic layout is similar to the N-Van e, a kei-class electric van launched late last year. However, it appears more plush inside. The N-Van e offers 245km of WLTP range. Its single electric motor produces 47kW and 162Nm, while its battery can be charged at up to 50kW on DC power and up to 6kW on AC power. Pricing hasn't been announced for the N-One e yet, but the N-Van e starts at ¥2,699,400 (~A$27,800) while offering front, front-side and curtain airbags, a heated driver's seat and a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, as well as active safety technology like autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist. It measures just 3395mm long, 1475mm wide and 1960mm tall. ABOVE: Honda N-Van e The N-One e joins Honda's N series of kei cars, which also includes the petrol-powered N-One, N-Box, N-Wgn and N-Van. Honda says the N-One e "inherits the endearing exterior design, spacious interior space, and easy handling" of the N360, one of the brand's first vehicles which was launched in 1967. While the N-One e goes up against a growing contingent of electric kei cars – which includes the Nissan Sakura and Mitsubishi eK X twins, as well as potentially at some point a rival from BYD – it's unlikely to come here. ABOVE, from left: Honda e:Ny1, Prologue, Ye P7, Afeela 1 Mitsubishi said it looked at importing the eK X, only to find it would be "uneconomic" to sell it here without modifying it to meet Australian Design Rules (ADRs). The company argued these federal regulations were a hindrance, as the eK X met Japanese type approval and safety requirements there. The closest thing to these vehicles is the Hyundai Inster city EV, launched here this year with a base price of $39,000 before on-road costs. It's larger, measuring 3825mm long, and has up to 84kW of power and 360km of range depending on the variant. Honda doesn't offer any EVs in Australia, despite selling a growing EV lineup in China, a couple in Japan, one in Europe, and the Prologue in North America that uses a General Motors (GM) platform. It has also established a joint venture with Sony to produce EVs under the Afeela brand. The company's Australian arm said in 2024 that its first EV would be released here before 2028. MORE: Everything Honda Content originally sourced from: Honda has revealed its N-One e, a pint-size electric vehicle (EV) offering almost 300km of range and the ability to supply power to your home. While the company has released images of the N-One e ahead of its launch in the northern Autumn (September to November), it has released little in the way of specifications. Honda has confirmed it offers 270km of range on the WLTC cycle – one of the cycles used in WLTP testing – and vehicle-to-load (V2L) and vehicle-to-home (V2H) charging functionality, as well as a one-pedal drive mode. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. It hasn't released any performance figures, charging rates or dimensions, but the N-One e is almost certain to be under 3.4m long and produce less than 47kW from a single electric motor, per Japanese kei car regulations. As is often the case with Japanese kei cars, the N-One e has a boxy shape and 'friendly' styling. "She's so adorable you'll want to call her your partner," reads Honda's website. "The electric N-One has a face that makes you feel attached to it. You'll want to talk to it every day, asking, 'How are you doing?'" Honda has used recycled materials in parts of the N-One e. The grille, for example, is made from discarded bumpers, while the carpeting and insulation is made from materials like PET bottles and old employees' work clothes. The interior is simple and versatile. The 50:50-split rear seats fold flat, while it appears you can shuffle between the front seats without snagging yourself on a console. A recessed shelf also runs along the dashboard, with USB outlets located just above it to make it a handy spot to put your phone. There's a free-standing infotainment touchscreen, as well as plenty of physical switchgear including for the climate control. The basic layout is similar to the N-Van e, a kei-class electric van launched late last year. However, it appears more plush inside. The N-Van e offers 245km of WLTP range. Its single electric motor produces 47kW and 162Nm, while its battery can be charged at up to 50kW on DC power and up to 6kW on AC power. Pricing hasn't been announced for the N-One e yet, but the N-Van e starts at ¥2,699,400 (~A$27,800) while offering front, front-side and curtain airbags, a heated driver's seat and a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, as well as active safety technology like autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist. It measures just 3395mm long, 1475mm wide and 1960mm tall. ABOVE: Honda N-Van e The N-One e joins Honda's N series of kei cars, which also includes the petrol-powered N-One, N-Box, N-Wgn and N-Van. Honda says the N-One e "inherits the endearing exterior design, spacious interior space, and easy handling" of the N360, one of the brand's first vehicles which was launched in 1967. While the N-One e goes up against a growing contingent of electric kei cars – which includes the Nissan Sakura and Mitsubishi eK X twins, as well as potentially at some point a rival from BYD – it's unlikely to come here. ABOVE, from left: Honda e:Ny1, Prologue, Ye P7, Afeela 1 Mitsubishi said it looked at importing the eK X, only to find it would be "uneconomic" to sell it here without modifying it to meet Australian Design Rules (ADRs). The company argued these federal regulations were a hindrance, as the eK X met Japanese type approval and safety requirements there. The closest thing to these vehicles is the Hyundai Inster city EV, launched here this year with a base price of $39,000 before on-road costs. It's larger, measuring 3825mm long, and has up to 84kW of power and 360km of range depending on the variant. Honda doesn't offer any EVs in Australia, despite selling a growing EV lineup in China, a couple in Japan, one in Europe, and the Prologue in North America that uses a General Motors (GM) platform. It has also established a joint venture with Sony to produce EVs under the Afeela brand. The company's Australian arm said in 2024 that its first EV would be released here before 2028. MORE: Everything Honda Content originally sourced from:
