Red Bull names new Powertrains unit in memory of F1 legend

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Red Bull has named its new powertrain building on its Milton Keynes campus in memory of Austrian F1 legend Jochen Rindt.

Red Bull's new engine department, which is expected to partner with Porsche in the future for the development of F1's 2026 next-generation power unit, is now up and running and getting a head start on the design and engineering of its future hybrid V6 engine.

Red Bull's array of buildings in Milton Keynes are all numbered, but its Powertrains unit is called "The Rindt Building" in tribute to F1's 1970 posthumous world champion who was also a good friend of Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko.

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"We call it the Rindt Building now, because we’re past the numbers stage" explained Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said.

"We have invested in the facilities to try to ensure that we are able to compete with current engine manufacturers, and I think that is a major hurdle, because we started from scratch 12 months ago.

"We have built a factory in 55 weeks, and obviously without full clarity of the regulations, that’s a key step in what the future looks like.

"So it’s an incredible commitment that Red Bull has made to the sport by investing in Red Bull Powertrains."

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Horner: Red Bull partnership with Porsche must fit with team's DNA

Last year, RBP (Red Bull Powetrains) signed up former Mercedes head of mechanical engineering Ben Hodgkinson as its new technical director.

Dozens of qualified personnel followed in RBP's recruitment process, but Red Bull achieved a major coup when he recently poached highly-respected Mercedes chief engineer Phil Prew from the manufacturer's HPP engine department in Brixworth.

Given Prew's senior status with Mercedes, the British engineer, who also worked at McLaren for 25 years, is likely to undergo a period of gardening leave before starting work at RBP.

"Powertrains is going from strength to strength," said Horner.

"I think that things are really taking shape. You can see in Milton Keynes we've gone from being a few units on an industrial estate to being a technology campus.

"The investment by the group has been significant.

"We have recruited a very impressive group of people for Red Bull Powertrains and they are hard at work.

"The first engine will soon be running. It has been a steep learning curve but we have recruited some phenomenal talent."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.