Red Bull enters the 2026 F1 season with its first in‑house power unit, built by Red Bull Powertrains in Milton Keynes with technical input from Ford. The new engine is scheduled to debut at the Australian GP in March, and the team has a closed‑door shakedown in Barcelona scheduled for January 26 as part of early preparations.

A regulatory dispute has arisen over Article C.5.4.3 of the 2026 Technical Regulations, which sets a maximum geometric compression ratio of 16.0 measured at ambient temperature. Reports suggest Red Bull Powertrains and Mercedes may be exploiting wording in the article to run effectively higher compression ratios on track, prompting the FIA to convene technical experts to resolve differing interpretations. Red Bull technical chief Ben Hodgkinson defended the design, saying the team had pushed the package “right to the very limit,” expected measured targets around 15.999 and argued the nominal 16.0 limit is conservative given advances in combustion.

Teams and the FIA agreed component limits for 2026 — four internal combustion engines/turbochargers and three MGU‑Ks per driver before penalties apply — and the regulator granted an exception giving Red Bull and Audi one extra power‑unit component across the board in 2027. Audi entered 2026 after purchasing Sauber and is the other new engine manufacturer alongside Red Bull Powertrains; the FIA’s concession to both newcomers could create a late‑season competitive swing in 2027 if either manufacturer contests the title.

Red Bull also arranged to supply its sister team, Racing Bulls, through a technical partnership with Ford, extending its in‑house architecture beyond the works cars.

Team principal Laurent Mekies described 2026 as a transition year in which in‑season development will be decisive. He warned Red Bull would not immediately match Mercedes and Ferrari in outright power and said a slow start could reignite speculation about Max Verstappen’s future. Verstappen, who holds performance‑related exit clauses in a contract running to 2028 and has held exploratory talks with Mercedes, was reported to have reaffirmed his commitment to Red Bull for 2026 while focusing on driving. Mekies said the team hoped to show “enough progress” during the season to secure Verstappen’s continuation.

Taken together, the technical switch, ongoing rule clarifications and the FIA’s component concession leave Red Bull an underdog entering 2026, with a recovery path defined by rapid development and regulatory outcomes.

Sources