In 2026, a new era will dawn for Red Bull Racing and sister team Racing Bulls. From that point on, the teams will transition from Honda engines to power units developed in-house by Red Bull Powertrains. Red Bull team boss Laurent Mekies discusses the challenge and motivation that comes with developing their own engine.
With the new technical regulations in 2026, the Formula 1 power unit will undergo a fundamental change: less fuel consumption, more electric support, and the disappearance of the MGU-H. Red Bull has been working with Honda in recent years, but since Honda’s departure – and the recent return to Aston Martin – Red Bull is developing its own power unit through Red Bull Powertrains. A significant challenge.
Team boss Laurent Mekies realizes that the learning curve will be steep. “We know we have a mountain to climb. We are taking it step by step and trying to scale up as quickly as possible – after all, it’s not just about the engine, but also everything around it: the people and the infrastructure.” This process will not be without obstacles. “We expect a year full of hard work and many sleepless nights to reach the level we are aiming for. But it feels like a typical Red Bull challenge – and we love that.”
The Red Bull Way
Red Bull team boss Laurent Mekies looks at the enormous task ahead for the team with a combination of realism and ambition. “It’s an incredible challenge,” says the Frenchman. “We do not underestimate how insane it is to develop our own Formula 1 power unit without any experience. Mercedes and Ferrari have been doing this for ninety years – maybe even longer. It would be naive to think that we will be at that same level from day one.” Yet Red Bull’s commitment is clear: the team is going all in, in their own unique way. “We are building it the Red Bull way – setting the bar as high as possible.”
