In 2026, Red Bull faces the daunting task of developing engines for their Formula 1 team. With the assistance of automotive giant Ford, Max Verstappen’s car will soon be powered by a homegrown engine. This is a significant challenge for the current champions, who currently rely on the expertise of supplier Honda. However, team boss Christian Horner is not overly concerned about the development of a Red Bull engine.
Uncertainty Surrounding New Regulations
It’s still unclear what the new regulations will look like. We now know that the F1 cars of 2026 will rely even more on their hybrid systems. Ultimately, power must be evenly distributed between the battery and the internal combustion engine. With these new regulations, Red Bull will rely on a power source of its own. Experts have expressed concerns about the feasibility of such a project, but according to Christian Horner, there is no cause for alarm.
Progress on Schedule
“Everything is on schedule,” said the team boss in the run-up to the GP of China. “It’s always difficult to know how we compare to the competition, but behind the scenes, there’s a lot of hard work going on. It’s literally a race against time to the start of 2026.” Horner admitted that Red Bull has been given a tough task, but they won’t be easily discouraged. “As far as the engine is concerned, we have applied an aggressive learning curve as a brand-new manufacturer. But the team is really taking on this challenge.”
Red Bull’s Dominance in the Ground Effect Era
In recent years, Red Bull has proven to be dominant in the so-called ground effect era. The cars designed by chief designer Adrian Newey have been the standard since 2022. With the introduction of new regulations, this could change. “Two years is very short,” sighed Horner. “But we have a clear schedule and so far, all our goals have been achieved.”
