Red Bull Expect Early Struggles in 2026 as New Ford Power Unit Era Begins

Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies has acknowledged that the team expects to start the 2026 Formula 1 season on the back foot, conceding they are likely to trail their leading rivals during the early stages of the new regulations era.

For the first time since entering Formula 1 in 2005, Red Bull will manufacture its own power unit, developed in partnership with Ford, as sweeping new regulations for both engines and chassis are introduced in 2026. While the project marks a major milestone for the team, Mekies admitted the scale of the challenge means immediate competitiveness cannot be assumed.

Speaking to Sky Sports News during Red Bull’s 2026 livery reveal in Detroit on Thursday, Mekies said:

“We know this will come with difficulties. There will be sleepless nights and headaches, and we ask for a bit of patience during the first few months. Nobody underestimates the size of the mountain we have to climb, but it’s exactly the kind of challenge we want to take on.”

He added:

“It would be naïve to think that after building everything from zero, even with the fantastic support from Ford, we could arrive at the first race at the same level as teams that have been doing this for many years. That’s not realistic. We are going to be trailing them initially.”

Max Verstappen narrowly missed out on a fifth consecutive Drivers’ Championship in 2025, losing the title to McLaren’s Lando Norris by just two points. However, with Red Bull transitioning to an in-house power unit programme, questions remain over whether the team will be able to immediately fight for honours in 2026.

Under the new regulations, Red Bull will supply engines to both its own team and Racing Bulls. Mercedes will continue to build power units for itself, McLaren, Williams, and Alpine, while Ferrari will supply Ferrari, Haas, and Cadillac. Audi will power its works Sauber team, and Honda—Red Bull’s former supplier will provide engines for Aston Martin.

Despite the anticipated early-season struggles, Mekies remains confident Red Bull can close the gap as the campaign progresses, beginning with the Australian Grand Prix on March 8. He pointed to the team’s strong development capability, which was evident last season after he replaced Christian Horner as Team Principal. Following a mid-season slump, Red Bull rebounded strongly, with Verstappen winning six of the final nine races.

“We are heading into an incredibly intense development season, both on the chassis and power unit sides,”

Mekies said.

“We believe strongly in our people and in the partners we have assembled. “Last year showed that even in the final season of a regulations cycle, you can make significant gains through development. For 2026, that development rate will be three or four times higher for us, simply because of how much there is to learn. We’ll take it step by step—but with the right level of aggressiveness.”

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Written by

James Rees

A passionate motorsport journalist from Wales, with over 30 years of love for the sport. A dedicated father of three, working as a content manager, covering the fast-paced world of Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3, Formula E, and IndyCar.

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