Red Bull team principal Christian Horner believes the team is on track with its engine project for 2026 – all targets in Milton Keynes have been achieved so far
New engines will be used in Formula 1 in 2026, which is why Red Bull is working flat out on the development of its own engine, which is being developed jointly with Ford. The work in Milton Keynes is therefore running at full speed and team boss Christian Horner sees Red Bull Powertrains right on schedule, which is why the mood in Milton Keynes should be good
The drive components are currently undergoing extensive testing on the test benches so that nothing is left to chance. Performance is being measured, which is very important for the new turbo-hybrid concept. There are many rumors about the progress at Red Bull, but Horner makes it clear that the team is currently on schedule.
He says: “We are working with the engine on aggressive development to become a new engine manufacturer. The team is currently mastering the challenge very well. Our infrastructure is in place: we have the testing and development departments, the test benches, the premises and the production capacity.”
However, according to Horner, two years of engine development is a very short time, which is why the completion of the first engine is still a long way off. “We have a steep learning curve and are exactly where we wanted to be at this point in time,” said Horner, who believes Red Bull is right on track.
“We are achieving the goals we set ourselves,” said Horner. “But we don’t know what the competition is doing. But the work behind the scenes is enormous. It’s obviously a race against time when it starts in 2026.” World champion Max Verstappen also sees no reason to worry about Red Bull.
“If I were to speculate about everything, I’d have to worry about whether I’d still be alive tomorrow,” says Verstappen. “I don’t worry about that too much. I’m obviously in close contact with Christian and know what everyone is working on. Everyone is going full throttle and there’s no need to panic. It’s not 2026 yet. “
However, Verstappen sees engine development as a major challenge that will not be easy to overcome. “Of course, there are many established manufacturers and it won’t be easy to beat them,” he says. “There are a lot of good people working on the project and we are looking forward to it. Time will tell where the journey will take us. “
