Verstappen relaxed as Red Bull brace for unknowns under new engine rules
Before, during, and after the launch of the partnership between Red Bull Racing and Ford, there was mainly optimism within the team. However, there are also concerns, as GPblog learned on-site.
The leadership of Red Bull, Racing Bulls, and Ford is cautiously optimistic about the power unit they have jointly developed in the run-up to the 2026 Formula 1 season. Still, there is a note of caution when this site asks questions about the expected competitiveness of the brand-new power unit, especially compared to the competition. There are concerns about reliability—something that applies to every F1 team and will become clearer during the first pre-season test in Barcelona.
"Or like the engine exploding...- Isack Hadjar on the new F1 engine for 2026
While Max Verstappen keeps things vague regarding his expectations for the new engine, his new teammate is a bit more outspoken. Speaking to GPblog ahead of the season launch in Detroit, Hadjar says he has some concerns about the reliability of the engines under the new FIA regulations.
Exploding engines at Red Bull?
Asked by GPblog what he thinks will be the biggest challenge in dealing with the new engines in 2026, Hadjar makes it clear he is worried about reliability. "Like the engine exploding, maybe", the Frenchman answers jokingly. "Something like that. Let's see, but we need to be... We can't arrive too confident. It's going to be things we didn't plan that's going to happen, and we need to stay cool."
Verstappen isn’t too bothered. "I don't think about that. I think we all want to be first, but we just want to get a lot of laps in and see where attention has to go. So at the moment, I’m just really relaxed about it all, because you don't know, you have no idea," he says.
Racing Bulls drivers Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad also indicate that, especially in the early phase of the new regulations, everything revolves around reliability. No matter how many hours the drivers spend in the simulator, it will only become clear on the track where things really stand.
Red Bull and Ford optimistic yet cautious
Ford Racing Global Director Mark Rushbrook emphasises this in an exclusive conversation with GPblog. If there are obstacles, it won’t be due to the work ethic of either the teams or Ford. In that respect, there is certainly optimism at Red Bull and Ford, but at the same time, they remain conservative when it comes to performance expectations.
This is despite the alleged trick that Red Bull and Mercedes have found, along with the accompanying optimism about it. That does not mean, however, that they expect to be at the front of the grid right away.
As Hadjar put it: "I think at the start of the year, if you just finish the races, it's already a very good start."
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