Red Bull’s Formula 1 team boss Laurent Mekies has admitted that building its own drive for the 2026 season is an enormous challenge. The Frenchman described the project as “as crazy as possible”, emphasized that this approach to the DNA of Red Bull is adequately.
Under the leadership of team boss Christian Horner, Red Bull decided early on to develop its own drive units for the new engine regulations. The drives are being built in cooperation with Ford at Red Bull Powertrains at the Milton Keynes location.
The team thus appears for the first time as an independent engine manufacturer in Formula 1 and faces the task of competing with established sizes such as Mercedes, Ferrari and Honda. Mercedes Motor sports director Toto Wolff had previously stated that Red Bull was standing in front of a “Mount Everest” and has to go an extremely difficult way to be competitive.
When asked about this assessment, Mekies largely agreed on the edge of the Italy Grand Prix. “Toto is right when he says that it is a Mount Everest that we have to climb,” said the Frenchman. “I find it as crazy as possible to decide like Red Bull to develop my own drive. It is an incredible challenge. But exactly such projects are in the nature of Red Bull. It feels right.”
However, Mekies warned of too high expectations and emphasized that it would be unrealistic to be at the level of Mercedes or Ferrari as early as 2026. “These manufacturers have been developing engines for decades. It would be naive to believe that we drive on their level from the start. We build everything on the highest possible level according to the Red Bull principle and proceed step by step.”
The team boss also explained that the structure of the structures around the new drive would be promoted at high pressure. “We try to set up the right infrastructures, processes and the right staff as soon as possible,” said Mekies. “We know that a year with a lot of hard work and sleepless nights are imminent. But exactly such challenges go perfectly with Red Bull, and we love that.”