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Red Bull sets stage for fierce ‘gloves-off’ battle in revolutionary new F1 engine era

Arthur Ling by Arthur Ling
February 2, 2026
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
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Red Bull sets stage for fierce ‘gloves-off’ battle in revolutionary new F1 engine era

MONTMELO, SPAIN - JANUARY 27: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (3) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB22 on track during day two of F1 Shakedown at Circuit de Catalunya on January 27, 2026 in Montmelo, Spain. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images) // Getty Images // SI202601270644 // Usage for editorial use only //

Red Bull Ignites Engine Wars: “Gloves-Off” Challenge Ahead!

In a thrilling showdown that promises to rev up the Formula 1 world, Red Bull Powertrains’ technical director Ben Hodgkinson has thrown down the gauntlet, calling for an all-out “gloves-off” approach to the development of new power units. This season marks a pivotal moment in F1 history with the introduction of revolutionary power units that significantly amplify electrical output, matching the might of combustion engines.

But hold on tight! To prevent any single team from racing ahead unchecked, F1 has rolled out the Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) system. This scheme introduces a rigorous review process after the sixth, twelfth, and eighteenth races of the season—a move that Hodgkinson vehemently opposes. “I would personally love just to get rid of homologation, have a gloves-off fight, that’s what I’d really like,” he declared, expressing his frustration with the current restrictions.

The last time F1 underwent a major engine overhaul in 2014, Mercedes dominated the grid for years, leaving the competition in the dust. Fast forward to today, Hodgkinson warns that even with the ADUO in place, narrowing the gap for trailing manufacturers will not be a walk in the park. “Does it sufficiently reward the people that get it right? I think so,” he commented, but there’s a catch.

The intricacies of power unit development are vastly misunderstood by rule makers, according to Hodgkinson. “The gestation time of an idea in power units is much longer than it is in chassis,” he explained, elaborating on the extensive time required to update a fleet of engines rather than just two cars. “If I need to make a change, I’ve not just got two cars to update; I’ve got a whole fleet of engines in the pool,” he said, underscoring the complexity of the task at hand.

Furthermore, the homologation process means teams cannot gamble on untested ideas. “You could be signing up to a world of pain,” Hodgkinson cautioned. With a minimum durability requirement for new parts and the high-precision manufacturing involved, timelines stretch out considerably. “Our parts normally are very, very high-precision metal bits that just take time to manufacture,” he noted, revealing that some components can take up to 12 weeks to produce and verify.

The stakes are high, as any team that gains an edge in power units during the early races will create a significant barrier for others trying to catch up. “If a team has an advantage on the power unit in race one, it’s going to take some time before anyone else can catch up,” Hodgkinson warned. While the ADUO offers a means to level the playing field, he remains skeptical about the feasibility of swift updates. “I think it’s quite challenging to come up with an update in a couple of weeks – if I had 20 kilowatts to bolt on the engine right now, I’d do it,” he asserted, highlighting the urgency and intensity of the competition.

As the engines roar to life this season, fans can expect a fierce battle on the track, one that may redefine the landscape of Formula 1 racing. Will Red Bull’s call for an unrestrained fight be heeded, or will the constraints of the ADUO stifle innovation? The race for supremacy begins now!

Tags: 1958-formula-1-seasonben-hodgkinsonred-bull-powertrains
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