Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies has revealed the progress made with Ford in the build-up to Formula 1‘s 2026 power unit regulation reset.
The Milton Keynes-based squad will enter F1’s latest era as a fully fledged works outfit.
For the first time since its debut on the grid in 2005, Red Bull will field its own power unit in conjunction with partner Ford.
With Honda’s imminent departure, the Austrian energy drinks conglomerate established its own engine division – Red Bull Powertrains (RBPT).
After years of development, this project will finally see itself taking shape with the regulations reset right over the horizon.
“At first, symbolically, it’s huge, because there is no crazier challenge than Oracle Red Bull Racing with Ford deciding to do its own engine,” Mekies said on the Talking Bulls podcast.
“There is nothing as crazy as that in recent Formula 1 history. It’s typical Red Bull crazy stuff to do.”
Red Bull’s 2026 engine is on the dyno
All 10 teams will get enough pre-season testing under their belts to iron out issues expected out of a brand new concept.
However, the biggest challenge will fall in the laps of teams like Audi and Red Bull, which will formulate an F1 power unit for the first time.
Mekies revealed that ahead of the team’s season launch, slated to take place on 15 January at a Ford event, the team has started testing out its 2026 engine on the dyno.
“Just hearing that sound is already crazy, let alone whether it’s going to be fast or not. So yes, the sound is on. It’s been on the dyno for a while now,” he revealed.
The Frenchman kept his cards close to his chest with respect to the expected competitiveness of its very first power unit.
Rather, he insisted that the team’s only priority now was to ensure they have an engine, ready to be fitted to the RB22 and sister team Racing Bulls’ car for testing on track.
“It’s only a few months to go,” he recognised.
“So, we are actually in the peak stress moment to make sure we can actually make one and get one to the racetrack.”
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