Red Bull clinched its maiden 2026 win in Malaysia, marking the debut victory for its own power unit. Could this be the turning point for the team?
Red Bull’s engine has been rated the best by the FIA.
Laurent Mekies’ crew would have liked a development token, yet they now stand alone. Still, Red Bull and Ford have stunned rivals by hitting the ground running in their first season.
It begs the question how much the team has over‑delivered, even as Max Verstappen says he stayed clear of extremes before 2026, dismissing both doom‑laden talk and hype about a flying start.
I kept a neutral stance,” the Dutch champion explained, adding he wasn’t overly optimistic nor pessimistic because, frankly, who could know?
You trust the hires to do their job. I never overthink—it’s obvious when the car and engine are ready,” he said.
The facilities can produce a top‑class engine; Red Bull poured huge funds into them. I wasn’t stressed, just thrilled with our launch,” Verstappen noted.
It could have been far worse, as we see with other paddock players,” Verstappen pointed to Honda’s current woes.
Max Verstappen – Red Bull Racing
We stay proud and keep grinding, aware there are many areas to improve. That’s the mindset inside the team,” he added.
Without an ADUO token, hardware upgrades are off the table, yet Red Bull and Ford fine‑tune software and energy management each race, boosting performance in Baku and Malaysia.
Isack Hadjar says these results starkly contrast with the power‑unit project’s state at the start of the year.
Honestly, the first lap I did in Barcelona with the new engine felt like a long season ahead,” Hadjar told reporters, impressed by the engineers’ work.
It settled quickly, and I barely grasp how impressive that was,” he added.
He also referenced the brand‑new Jochen Rindt hall, built from scratch. Red Bull poured money into the site and into Ben Hodgkinson’s team, filled with ex‑Mercedes talent, yet progress in months is astonishing. For my money, Red Bull’s rapid facility build is a masterstroke.
I recall the beginning,” Hadjar said. “The project kicked off after I joined the junior squad. When I arrived, there was only Red Bull Racing, and six months later two huge buildings rose.”
I’m thrilled for the crew back home, even if an engine can sometimes frustrate a driver,” he smiled.
He means a driver can shape chassis development through feedback, but has limited sway over the power unit.
When I discuss the chassis, the engine is out of my development reach. I rely on the team, and luckily they’re talented. I’m very happy with that,” he explained.
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– The Team