Red Bull is preparing for a challenging season. With the sweeping regulatory changes of 2026 the team is taking a major step: for the first time Red Bull will race with its own power unit, developed in collaboration with Ford. That leaves plenty of question marks over the competitiveness of the new RB22. Team principal Laurent Mekies is therefore expecting a difficult start to the season.
During the so-called season launch in Detroit, Mekies was candid that the combination of new rules and a completely new power unit will create significant headaches. “We are entering a special moment for Formula 1,” he told those present. “It will be the biggest regulatory change in the history of the sport.” Red Bull deliberately chose this new era to step up to an in-house power unit. “It is also the moment when we decided to develop our own power unit, with the incredible support of our strategic partner Ford, who has backed us from the very beginning.”
‘Insane challenge’
According to Mekies, the project is extraordinarily ambitious. “It’s an insane challenge,” he continued. “Maybe it’s a challenge only outfits like Red Bull and Ford can tackle, but that’s exactly where we’re ready to be. It’s going to be a year full of challenges, and that’s also what binds us together.” At the same time he cooled expectations for the opening months. “After everything we’ve said about the scale of the task — starting from scratch and rebuilding everything — it would be naïve to think that at the first race we’ll be on the same level as rivals who have been doing this for years.”
Mekies conceded that Red Bull is fully aware problems will arise. “We know there will be plenty of difficulties, headaches and sleepless nights, but that’s what we’re built for,” he said, combative. “We’re confident we’ve put together a fantastic group of people and partners, and together we’ll get past those obstacles. Be patient with us in the first months,” was his message. “I think these initial struggles will later be a solid reminder of how much we went through to finally reach the top.”
