The 2026 Formula 1 regulations are yet to be finalised, even though the season gets underway in less than a year’s time. The engines have already been in long-term development, while the teams had clearance to start building their chassis in January.
There’s considerable uncertainty over the pecking order given the scale of the changes. There are ‘whispers’ in the paddock that Mercedes will be ‘very competitive’ after nailing the shift to hybrid engines in 2014.
But aside from that, it’s largely guesswork. Red Bull have been frontrunners since 2009, but they will build their own power unit for the first time.
The engine will feature Ford badges, but it’s being developed in-house at Milton Keynes. For all the hires Christian Horner has made from rival teams like Mercedes, it would be some feat to match long-established manufacturers at the outset.
Red Bull could engineer important change to 2026 F1 engine rules despite Mercedes opposition
When the 2026 F1 regulations were initially announced, it was said that the battery would account for 50% of the car’s overall power output. That’s a roughly threefold increase from the current generation.
But Red Bull want to roll that back. They would prefer a 60 or 70% bias in favour of the internal combustion engine.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is firmly opposed to any such change. He doesn’t see any reason to change the framework before the cars have even taken to the track.
Importantly, though, Auto Motor und Sport journalist Michael Schmidt says Red Bull have a ‘connection’ with Mohammed Ben Sulayem after sponsoring him during his racing career. They need support from the teams, but they could persuade the FIA president to lobby for their cause.
“The other topic is the power split between the combustion engine and the battery,” Schmidt said. “Red Bull always find a sympathetic ear in FIA boss Ben Sulayem. He has a bit of connection to Red Bull because he used to be sponsored by them.
“They’re trying to soften up this energy split a bit, at least in the race, so that it’s not 55/45, but 60/40 or 70/30. Mercedes certainly won’t agree to that. Toto Wolff is saying ‘let’s just drive as we planned, then we can always react’.”
The worrying data behind Red Bull’s engine request to Mohammed Ben Sulayem
While Horner has said otherwise publicly, world champion Max Verstappen has yet to definitively commit to Red Bull for 2026. He may be under contract, but his deal features a performance-based escape clause.
Moving now would be extremely risky because he doesn’t know how teams will stack up in F1’s new era. To that end, Verstappen could take a sabbatical for 2026 and return in 2027, allowing him to spend time with the child that will be born later this year.
Verstappen may be aware that Red Bull are lagging behind for 2026. Helmut Marko has apparently said in private that they are 10bhp down on their rivals.
This may explain why Horner is keen to move the goalposts for next year. It may be that Red Bull are satisfied with their ICE, but haven’t yet optimised their battery.
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