Red Bull’s Revolutionary Leap: Engine Development in Historic Ford Collaboration for F1 2026
In a groundbreaking move that promises to shake the foundations of Formula 1, Red Bull Racing is gearing up to unveil its very own engine, developed in conjunction with automotive titan Ford. Team principal Laurent Mekies has revealed that the ambitious project is currently at a critical juncture, described as the “peak stress moment,” as the team races against time to prepare for the highly anticipated 2026 season.
For the first time in its storied history, Red Bull is taking the monumental step of producing an in-house power unit, following the expiration of its partnership with Honda at the end of 2025. This collaboration with Ford marks a significant evolution for the team, which has long relied on external power unit suppliers.
Mekies did not shy away from emphasizing the magnitude of this endeavor. “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,” he declared on Red Bull’s internal podcast, Talking Bull. “There is nothing as crazy as that in recent Formula 1 history. It’s typical Red Bull crazy stuff to do.”
As the Red Bull Powertrains division pushes to get its inaugural power unit ready for the track, testing is set to begin at the end of January. Mekies confirmed that the engine is currently undergoing rigorous testing in the team’s dynamometer, ensuring it meets the high performance standards expected from a team of Red Bull’s caliber. “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, and we are actually in the peak stress moment to make sure we can actually make one and get one to the racetrack,” he stated.
The stakes are high as Red Bull-Ford Powertrains prepares to enter a competitive landscape where it will not be alone. The 2026 season will also see Audi make its debut as a power unit manufacturer, while Cadillac enters as a constructor using Ferrari power for its first two seasons before launching its own factory unit by 2028.
In addition to these newcomers, the grid is set for a shakeup, with Alpine switching to customer Mercedes power after scrapping its own engine plans. Meanwhile, Honda is set to transition to a factory deal with Aston Martin, further complicating the dynamics of power unit supply in the championship.
As the countdown to the 2026 season begins, all eyes will be on Red Bull as they embrace this audacious venture. Will their gamble pay off? The anticipation is palpable, and one thing is for sure: the roar of the new Red Bull-Ford engine will echo through the circuits of Formula 1, signaling a thrilling new era in motorsport.
