Laurent Mekies has agreed with Toto Wolff’s assertion that Red Bull could have “an Everest to climb” in Formula 1 2026, in terms of its nascent engine alliance with Ford.
F1 is gearing up for the game-changing new set of technical regulations from next year onwards, with Red Bull entering it with the American marque.
It is Ford’s first venture into F1 since 2004, and, with the collaboration, the first time that the Milton Keynes-based squad’s powertrains department will be producing its own engine.
The Red Bull-Ford venture has led to a lowering of expectations from the team, aware that the general step into the unknown with the regulations, and the joint inexperience
Early speculation has pointed towards Mercedes High Performance Powertrains being the leading engine manufacturer in terms of early testing of its 2026 goods.
This naturally leaves its works team, led by Wolff, along with McLaren, Williams and Alpine in potentially strong positions to challenge for results next year.
Speaking to media including Motorsport Week at the Dutch Grand Prix, Wolff was asked of the scale of task Red Bull has on its hands for next year.
“My first answer would be that’s Mount Everest to climb, because our engine departments have grown over tens of years,” he answered, adding that it would of course be risky to write off any team at this stage.
“Having said that, you can never underestimate anyone in this sport that has the firepower to build something from scratch with new ideas coming in, maybe different ways of thinking in terms of innovation and come out with a product that can be a surprise.”
Due to the headache that the new engine regulations are causing, and with new teams such as Audi coming in at the same time, the FIA have introduced a buffer which will allow struggling OEMs to move closer to its higher-performing rivals.
This gives the Red Bull-Ford alliance a bit of leeway but Wolff acknowledged that it will still leave them playing catch-up.
“The odds are against them, but it could be that for whatever reason it flies,” he said.
“And even if it doesn’t, our engine regulations state today that if you’re outside of two percent [sic, three percent] to the best power unit you have more dyno allocation.
“You can dig yourself out, but obviously that doesn’t happen over a race or two and doesn’t happen over a season. It needs a while to readjust itself.
“But it’s certainly a huge, huge challenge that they’ve given themselves by doing their own engine. But remember when they took the chassis team over, everybody joked that an energy drink company is trying to compete with Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren in Formula 1.
“And they won at the end, so maybe we talk differently in five years.
“Because of the complexity of the engines today it is more difficult.
“But if the engine regulations in four or five years go to a V8 with a more conventional electric contribution [things may change].”
Mekies admits Red Bull Everest analogy a fair likelihood
Mekies is feeling his way into his tenure as Team Principal and CEO of Red Bull after replacing Christian Horner in July.
The Frenchman has won the plaudits of senior advisor Helmut Marko and its star man Max Verstappen for his engineering approach being a cornerstone of the team’s mini resurgence.
It could naturally help the team going forward as it is likely to navigate some tricky avenues next year, as Mekies himself admits that 2026 is looking like a tricky term.
“I think Toto is right by saying it’s an Everest to climb. That’s what it is,” he told media including Motorsport Week ahead of its successful Italian Grand Prix weekend.
“It’s as crazy as it gets to decide to do your own power unit, as Red Bull has done. It’s an unbelievable challenge to be associated with. It’s the sort of crazy stuff Red Bull does – so it’s a good feeling. But we don’t underestimate how crazy it is.
“These guys have been doing it for 90 years or something like that.
“So it would be silly from our side to think we’re going to come here and, right from the start, be at Ferrari’s or Mercedes’ level.
“That would be silly. But it’s being set up the Red Bull way – at the maximum possible level. We take it step by step.”
“We are trying to ramp up as quickly as possible – both the PU and the structure that goes around the PU: the people, the infrastructure.
“Then, as I said, we expect a year with a lot of hard work, a lot of sleepless nights next year to try to get to the right level.
“But it’s a challenge that very much feels like a Red Bull challenge, and we love that.
“We’re not going to put a number on where we think we’ll be – because I don’t think anybody has a number – but we know we’re starting with a mountain to climb, as Toto said.”
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