Red Bull admit winning in 2026 would be a monumental challenge

Max Verstappen, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Contentpool — Photo: © IMAGO

Red Bull launch

Red Bull admit winning in 2026 would be a monumental challenge

The transition to Ford may get off to a rocky start in 2026.

By Graham Shaw.

Saturday 17 January 2026 17:00

Red Bull Racing is preparing to enter a new chapter in Formula 1 for the 2026 season, although the transition could come with early growing pains for the previously dominant team.

The Milton Keynes-based outfit is set to unveil its new car during a high-profile launch event in the United States, taking place overnight at Ford’s headquarters in Detroit, Michigan.

After seeing Max Verstappen claim four world championships between 2021 and 2024 with Honda-powered cars, Red Bull now heads into 2026 facing two major changes at once — a brand-new engine partnership with Ford and the introduction of sweeping technical regulations across the sport.

While oddsmakers currently have Verstappen heading the market to regain the Drivers’ Championship title from Lando Norris, Team Principal Laurent Mekies believes people should temper their expectations.

RED BULL F1 2026 CAR LAUNCH: Date, start time and free live stream

Mekies admits the scale of Red Bull challenge

Speaking to Bloomberg, he admitted: “You will have to bear with us a little bit. The scale of the challenge is monumental. We have started to design and build these engines in what was a field. We’ve made the factory, we’ve built the dyno.”

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He added: “It would be foolish and naive to think that from the first day you are going to be at the same level as people who have been doing it for 90 years.”

While the likes of Mercedes are expected to be a potent force under the new regulations in 2026, Mekies believes Red Bull has the right people and the right resources to play catchup.

“So bear with us. It will give us a few sleepless nights, it will give us a few headaches. We feel we have the right people, the right tools, the right spirit across what Red Bull means and what Ford means.

“We’ll eventually come out on top but the first few months will certainly be full of learning.”

Why is Ford investing in Red Bull project?

The significant investment Ford is putting into the Red Bull project is not just about F1 - it’s about the wider automotive business and providing credibility in that space.

Farley said: “Racing, especially in the offroad world, gives us credibility for customers that the product they buy has real capability that’s been tested in a way that a brand who doesn’t race, can’t say. And that’s what Porsche and Ferrari knew for a long time.”

F1 Red Bull Max Verstappen Laurent Mekies