In anticipation of Formula 1’s revised power unit regulations starting in 2026, which will eliminate the MGU-H component and place greater emphasis on electric power through the MGU-K along with sustainable fuels, Red Bull Racing is progressing with its engine development.
The Red Bull Powertrains facility in Milton Keynes, collaborating with Ford, is spearheading this effort for both Red Bull and its sister team.
Amid circulating rumors and concerns that Red Bull might be lagging behind other manufacturers in their engine development, team principal Christian Horner has confidently addressed these concerns.
In an interview with Motorsport.com, Horner stated, “We are hitting the targets that we’re setting ourselves.”
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He acknowledged the challenges of gauging their progress relative to competitors but emphasized the substantial efforts being made behind the scenes.
“The effort that’s going in behind the scenes is huge, because it is literally a race against the clock to the start of 2026,” Horner explained.
He described their development trajectory as aggressive due to their status as a new power unit manufacturer.
Nonetheless, Horner praised his team’s response to these challenges and noted that their facilities for testing, development, and manufacturing were fully operational.
Despite the tight timeframe, with only two years left, Horner remains optimistic.
“We’re on a steep learning curve, but we’re on that curve and where we would expect to be on that curve at this point in time,” he remarked.
Concerns over potential issues with the engine development have sparked speculations about the future of three-time world champion Max Verstappen with the team.
However, Verstappen has dismissed these speculations as premature.
He quipped, “I might be worried if I’m still alive tomorrow, right? So, I don’t really worry about that too much.”
Verstappen further assured fans of his close communication with Horner and his involvement with the team’s efforts.
“Everyone’s working flat out, so there is no need to panic about that. It’s still not 2026,” he added.
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Recognizing the magnitude of the challenge, Verstappen admitted that overtaking established manufacturers would not be straightforward but remained enthusiastic about the ongoing work and the collective talent of the team.
“We know that it is a very big task, we don’t take that lightly. And of course, with so many well-established engine manufacturers, we also don’t think it’s going to be easy to beat them,” he said, concluding optimistically, “But we have a lot of good people working on the project and we’re very excited about it.
“So time will tell, of course, where it’s going to be.””So time will tell, of course, where it’s going to be.”