F1 partnerships that will end at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
- Kavi Khandelwal
- 8 hours ago
- 5 min read
Written by Kavi Khandelwal, Edited by Meghana Sree
F1’s 2025 finale in Abu Dhabi will be the final outing for iconic partnerships in the sport that are set to end ahead of 2026, with several teams restructuring in preparation for the new regulatory era.
The conclusion of the 2025 Formula One season marks an exceptional moment of transition, representing a comprehensive restructuring of the grid ahead of the 2026 technical reset.
The termination of multiple long-standing partnerships, which includes the collaboration between Red Bull and Honda, the historic conclusion of Renault’s engine manufacturing program and the final race for the team identity founded by Peter Sauber, reflects highly calculated strategic decisions ahead of 2026.
This upheaval is a reflection of the sport structurally preparing itself for an era of sustainable, high-tech competition.
The 2026 reset
The single greatest catalyst that began this unprecedented upheaval was the forthcoming introduction of the 2026 Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) Technical Regulations, mandating a sweeping shift in Power Unit (PU) philosophy.
The new design requires a near equal 50/50 split between energy derived from the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and the electric components of the car, coupled with a pivot to fully sustainable fuels.
This technological challenge requires a substantial investment in hybrid engineering. The reworked PU requires the electrical component (MGU-K) to increase output dramatically, reaching approximately 350kW. This is an increase of almost 300% compared to the existing specification.
This change necessitates immense capital investment in advanced battery cell technology and complex electric motor design. The confluence of mandated technical shifts made the calculation for participation stark: invest massively in highly specialised areas, or lag in the engine production business entirely.
The framework successfully attracted new automotive giants such as Audi and Ford, emphasising on electrification and sustainability as crucial for corporate relevance.
Works vs customer teams
The rising cost and complexity in developing the 2026 PU fundamentally destabilises the value proposition for mid-tier engine manufacturers.
In the previous eras, the manufacturers could justify an expensive work program based on proprietary technology. However, the introduction of the F1 cost cap environment significantly altered this equation.
When an engine program consistently lags behind its rivals, performing 20-30bhp below other competitors, it requires an annual expenditure that is estimated around 120 millions dollars, or up to 90 million pounds. This is detrimental under the cost cap.
Every dollar poured into attempting to fix an underperforming works engine consumes resources that the chassis team could otherwise utilise for capped competitive development. Consequently, maintaining an underperforming works engine program is strategically illogical for certain teams.
The calculation affirms that under current financial regulations, pragmatic customer status offers a faster route to competitive success than a costly, struggling works operation.
With this in mind, the F1 grid will see a number of new partnerships in 2026, and many long-term collaborations come to an end with the 2025 season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Red Bull and Honda split
The highly successful partnership between Red Bull Racing and Honda delivered two Constructors’ Championships and four consecutive Drivers’ Championship for Max Verstappen, who is also chasing a fifth in Abu Dhabi.
This era saw the Red Bull Racing family of teams amass 71 victories and 140 podiums, with the bulk of Verstappen’s success realised with Honda power.
The genesis of the partnership's conclusion dates back to Honda’s initial 2020 exit announcement. This provided the necessary impetus for Red Bull to seize control of its engine future by creating its own in-house engine division known as Red Bull PowerTrains (RBPT).
Honda’s extension until 2025 functioned as a highly effectively managed transition, allowing Red Bull to build its infrastructure while remaining competitively viable.
The final race of 2025 marks the launch of RBPT as a full PU constructor, partnering with Ford. Ford’s contribution is highly strategic, focusing on modern high-tech areas critical to the 2026 ruleset, including the battery cell and electric motor technology.
This partnership mitigates substantial risk associated with a new F1 engine division, attempting to master all aspects of the complex hybrid systems simultaneously.
Despite parting ways, Honda Racing Corporation confirmed its commitment to the new F1 regulatory framework by transitioning its works program to Aston Martin for 2026, entering into an exclusive works team arrangement.
Renault bows out
The 2025 season finale also rings the bell for the conclusion of Renault’s factory engine operation, ending nearly five decades of engine production history.
Despite a formidable honours list of 12 Constructors’ Championships, the primary driver for the factory engine shutdown and the performance deficit became economically unsustainable. Under the cost cap, the Renault PU consistently lagged by an approximate margin of 20-30bhp.
The consequence of this is that Alpine will switch to Mercedes PU from 2026, transforming from a full works outfit into a customer team. This move, while “emotionally difficult” for the Viry operation was seen by the Alpine leadership as the fastest path to competitive contention by allowing the chassis division with the focus entirely on optimising their car design under the new rules.
Sauber’s last hurrah as Audi arrives
The team founded by Peter Sauber based in Switzerland ceases its temporary identity and officials transform into the Audi F1 Factory Team in 2026. Sauber, known for its stability and advanced infrastructure, was highly attractive to Audi.
Audi’s entry was based on a full factory structure and developing both the chassis and the PU. This successful synchronisation of these two separate facilities represents the largest technical and logistical unknown heading into the 2026 reset.
The new power map
Beyond these major shifts, the underlying stability persists within the Mercedes customer ecosystem. Both Williams and McLaren have confirmed the extension of their PU supply contracts with Mercedes-Benz well into the new regulatory era.
McLaren have extended through 2030 and Williams through 2026. This reflects a high degree of trust in Mercedes’ technical capability and provides these teams with a critical continuity as they focus on the significant chassis changes required for 2026.
Furthermore, the American team Haas F1 Team concluded its title partnership with MoneyGram, rebranding as the TGR Haas F1 Team. This signals a dramatically deepened technical relationship with Toyota Gazoo Racing, providing key technical resources like the highly valuable Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) program and the installation of their first dedicated personal simulator.
This transformation prioritises fundamental team infrastructure over purely financial branding, therefore enhancing their preparedness for the new regulations.
The partnership exodus concluding the 2025 season is a visible manifestation of F1’s calculated, market-driven evolution. The grid is actively reshaping itself to meet the 50/50 power split mandate, attracting new corporate capital and forcing out expensive underperformers.
The 2026 season will launch with five official engine manufacturers: Ferrari, Mercedes, Honda, Red Bull PowerTrains or Ford and Audi.
This configuration creates a highly polarised competitive dynamic, ensuring the majority of the grid is now either a full works team or operating under an exclusive, factory-supported technical partnership. This transition will rigorously test the viability and readiness of these independent works programs, ultimately determining the competitive landscape for the remainder of the decade.
