Red Bull not scared of 2026 power unit challenge says ex-mechanic
Former Red Bull Racing mechanic Calum Nicholas gives the team underdog status for 2026 as the they build their own power unit for the very first time.
“For the first time, we'll be creating our own engine, so we're certainly the underdogs of the big teams.”- Calum Nicholas on the 2026 regulation changes
The new rules in 2026 will likely shake up the current pecking order with extensive changes to regulations regarding both power units and aerodynamics.
Nicholas said the teams that are building their own power unit have the most difficult challenge, in particular Red Bull as they build their first ever power unit in collaboration with Ford.
After leaving the Red Bull race team earlier this year, Nicholas now serves as an ambassador for the team. He has also built up a significant social media following and has more than 450,000 Instagram followers.
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Speaking on The Line podcast he said: “It's a huge undertaking to go against seasoned car manufacturers in Mercedes, Ferrari, Audi.
“For the first time, we'll be creating our own engine, so we're certainly the underdogs of the big teams.
“But I also say that if there's an outfit out there that can be in that real position of being an underdog and come out on top, I can't see any other outfit being able to achieve that other than Red Bull. We've broken boundaries so many times.”
A new chapter for Red Bull
Red Bull Powertrains was formed in 2021 as the team began the process of incorporating an in-house power unit facility into their Milton Keynes campus.
From then until 2025 the team has enjoyed an agreement with Honda to use their technology after the Japanese manufacturer announced their exit from the sport in 2021.
However 2026 will mark a new chapter for Red Bull as they work with Ford to build a brand new engine from scratch.
Nicholas said: “To see from when Red Bull Powertrains was first founded on campus and see them build all the infrastructure and go through the process of design and manufacturing and developing an engine, it's been incredible to see.
“It poses a huge challenge but it's not a challenge that anybody's scared of. I think for the others, you expect teams like Mercedes to be in probably the best position.
“But who knows, it's one of those things for us in the factory, all we can do is hit our own targets, right?”
Joining the F1 grid in 2005, Red Bull used Cosworth and Ferrari engines in their first two years.
A period of success with Renault engines followed before a transition to Honda in 2019.
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