Red Bull Racing Formula One team principal Laurent Mekies agreed with Mercedes AMG team boss Toto Wolff’s prediction about its 2026 power unit. Wolff said that Red Bull has “Mount Everest to climb” in developing its own power unit, a statement that has now been accepted by Mekies.
Unlike teams like Mercedes and Ferrari that have a history of making power units for their cars and customer teams, meaning they possess the experience and resources to supply competitive engines, Red Bull began the development of its own 2026 power unit on a blank page, at a time when F1 steps into a new era of regulations.
The 2026 season will see the onset of fresh engine and chassis regulations, where cars will be powered by electric power and an internal combustion engine running on sustainable fuel, split in an equal ratio. A power unit with 50% electrification is a first for F1, and as a result, teams will venture into uncharted territory during its testing and development.
While teams with a background of working on F1 power units could have an upper hand in the technological race, Red Bull has partnered with Ford Racing under the Red Bull Powertrains banner to set out on the new journey. However, despite Ford’s expertise in making engines for non-F1 cars, the new partnership could go through several challenges, a point that Mekies acknowledged. Addressing Wolff’s Mount Everest remark, he said:
“I think Toto is right by saying it’s an Everest to climb – that’s what it is. It’s as crazy as it gets to take the decision to do your own power unit, as Red Bull has done. It’s an unbelievable challenge to be associated with.
“It’s the sort of crazy stuff Red Bull does – so it’s a good feeling. But we don’t underestimate how crazy it is. These guys have been doing it for 90 years or something like that, so it would be silly from our side to think we’re going to come here and, right from the start, be at Ferrari’s or Mercedes’ level. That would be silly.”
Mekies added that the project has been put on fast rails and acknowledged that the team could experience sleepless nights in 2026. He said:
“It’s being set up the Red Bull way – at the maximum possible level. We take it step by step. We are trying to ramp up as quickly as possible – both the PU and the structure that goes around the PU: the people, the infrastructure.
“Then, as I said, we expect a year with a lot of hard work, a lot of sleepless nights next year to try to get to the right level. But it’s a challenge that very much feels like a Red Bull challenge, and we love that.
“We’re not going to put a number on where we think we’ll be – because I don’t think anybody has a number – but we know we’re starting with a mountain to climb, as Toto said.”
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