According to a report, Red Bull racing targets to elect 50 Mercedes’ top engineering employees for their new power-unit department [Red Bull Powertrains] once their recruitment process is finished.

Milton Keynes-based F1 squad has already poached six senior engineers from Mercedes’. Team principal Christian Horner thinks the total recruitment from Mercedes could almost 50. Speculating the new candidate is Andy Cowell, former engine chief of Mercedes’, who exited from the Silver-Arrows earlier this season. He is unlikely to join Red Bull’s new engine project.

Auto Motor und Sport recently reporting that the Cowell’s news, who was deeply involved in the engine design of Mercedes’ V6 F1 engine hybrid era.

“Obviously, there’s a lot of media traction on these topics and with personnel joining obviously this new venture,” Horner told reporters.

“But I can say I was surprised to read a story this morning that apparently Andy had agreed to join us because that isn’t the case.”

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff rejects rumors of Cowell joins to Red Bull

“It would be a great surprise,” Wolff responded.

“Because it would mean it’s different to what we have discussed. But nothing stops him from taking any decision, whether he continues on his entrepreneurial journey or returns to Formula 1 in a different role.

“I speak to Andy every week about different things and for me it doesn’t seem he’s going to Red Bull. But in this sport, we’ve seen many black swans, so at the moment what I think? He’s not going there.”

Red Bull Powertrains is looking for more outstanding engineering staff. A factory is to be built there by 2022, which will initially use the engine that Honda will hand over to Red Bull at the end of the year for the next three seasons. And which will build its own power unit from 2025.

Red Bull Racing is ordering seven test rigs and will eventually employ between 300 and 350 people. Around 50 will come from Mercedes.