In 2026, the technical regulations within Formula 1 will undergo a significant overhaul. The new guidelines, which will impact both the chassis and the powertrain, promise to pose a challenge for the participating teams. For Red Bull, it will be an especially exciting year as the Austrians will develop their own engine for the first time. While team boss Christian Horner is tempering expectations, Helmut Marko is expressing confidence in the project.
In collaboration with automotive giant Ford, Red Bull is developing its own power unit for 2026 under the trade name Red Bull Powertrains. This is no easy task, as the rules stipulate that teams must build a complex hybrid system. The power must be evenly distributed between an internal combustion engine and a battery. Over the past few years, Red Bull has spared no expense to make the engine project a success.
‘No Significant Disadvantage’
However, Christian Horner does not want to raise expectations too high. He previously warned that it would be ‘arrogant’ to assume that Red Bull will surpass the competition in 2026 right away. Top advisor Helmut Marko questioned these statements, especially since Horner is expressing a different sentiment internally. “I was surprised when I read that,” he told Austrian media outlet OE24. “Internally, he (Horner) is saying something very different,” Marko added.
Unlike Horner, Marko assured that Red Bull is in a good starting position regarding the new power unit. “We believe that we currently have no significant disadvantage,” he explained. “Moreover, we are not the only manufacturer that has to build a completely new engine next year. We have plenty of experienced people on board – many of whom we have poached from established suppliers. Of course, the new regulations can lead to surprises, but let’s hope that no one becomes as dominant as Mercedes in 2014.”
