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Max Verstappen reveals urgent challenges ahead for Red Bull’s new F1 powertrain in 2026

Carl Smith by Carl Smith
January 31, 2026
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
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Max Verstappen reveals urgent challenges ahead for Red Bull’s new F1 powertrain in 2026

MONTMELO, SPAIN - JANUARY 30: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing adjusts his earplugs during day five of F1 Shakedown at Circuit de Catalunya on January 30, 2026 in Montmelo, Spain. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images) // Getty Images // SI202601301131 // Usage for editorial use only //

Max Verstappen Sounds Alarm: “A Lot of Work Ahead” for Red Bull’s New Ford Powertrain!

In a striking revelation following the first shakedown of the 2026 Formula 1 season, Max Verstappen has candidly declared, “there’s still quite a bit of work to do” on the newly minted Red Bull Ford Powertrain. The pressure is on as F1 teams engage in a high-stakes five-day private test in Barcelona, where the stakes are sky-high with all 11 teams vying for a competitive edge before monumental regulatory changes take effect.

This season marks a pivotal moment for Red Bull Racing as they embark on a groundbreaking journey, stepping into the role of power unit supplier for the first time in 21 years—this time with the formidable backing of Ford. Yet, despite their illustrious history and the brilliance of four-time champion Verstappen, the team is not heading into 2026 as the frontrunner. The reality is stark: they stumbled in their testing efforts, with Verstappen facing significant challenges in gaining track time during the critical opening days.

The team’s strategy on Monday saw Verstappen’s new teammate, Isack Hadjar, taking the wheel for the entire day, leaving the Dutch driver with limited opportunities to familiarize himself with the car before he finally got behind the wheel on Tuesday. Unfortunately, the unpredictable weather only compounded the issues, restricting valuable practice time. After a dramatic crash by Hadjar, Red Bull’s return to the track was delayed until the final day, where Verstappen finally managed to complete an impressive 118 laps, but he acknowledged that the week was far from flawless.

“Still work in progress, but I think we’ve hit the ground running quite well with those things,” Verstappen commented, underscoring the complexity of the current formula. “It’s still a very complicated formula for everyone, there’s still quite a bit of work to do, but that’s normal.”

On the contrary, Mercedes has emerged as a formidable force during testing, completing the most laps and showcasing the prowess of their teenage prodigy, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who even executed a full race simulation. With a history of domination, Mercedes is positioning itself as the favorite for this year’s constructors’ title, fueled by their success during the last major engine changes in 2014. George Russell, the team’s star driver, radiated confidence, having clocked extensive mileage and even setting the second-fastest lap of the week, just behind Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton.

“I think it was a very positive test,” Russell stated, reflecting on their extensive running. “The car’s feeling nice to drive, no major issues, no porpoising, which is pretty good news for all of us.” This marks a crucial turning point for Mercedes, who have struggled to reclaim their former glory since the introduction of ground-effect cars in 2022, leaving them title-less for the past two seasons.

However, Russell remains cautious, reminding fans and pundits alike, “On the power unit side, there’s some impressive things from some of our competitors and that’s quite surprising, to be honest.” He added, “You don’t want to judge too much into that. Time will tell.”

As the countdown to the 2026 season intensifies, the battle lines are drawn. Will Red Bull’s ambitious new power unit find its footing in time to challenge the titans of F1? Or will Mercedes continue to dominate the tracks? One thing is for certain: the season ahead promises to be electrifying!

Tags: 1958-formula-1-season2026-formula-1-seasongeorge-russell-2getspeed-mercedesisack-hadjar-2max-verstappen-enoracle-red-bull-racing
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