F1 | Red Bull reveals the weapon for 2026: here’s what their advantage will be
Against all speculation, Red Bull believes it has a decisive advantage for 2026. The upcoming season will be particularly challenging for the team, which for the first time will use engines produced internally. It is reasonable to expect a complicated start for the Milton Keynes squad, as becoming competitive from scratch is extremely difficult. Rumors indicate delays in the development of the new power unit, but it is impossible to make predictions before the cars hit the track.
In addition to the new power units, 2026 will see the debut of smaller tires, completely redesigned chassis, revolutionary aerodynamics, and many other changes. This means the team will need to distribute resources across numerous areas, not just the engine. The technical group, now without the guidance of Adrian Newey, faces an enormous challenge.
Despite this, Red Bull appears confident and claims to possess a weapon that others do not. In an interview with motorsport.com, Helmut Marko, the team’s sporting advisor, explained what he believes to be their true advantage.
“Internally we are satisfied,” he said. “But, like everyone else, we don’t know the numbers of our competitors. It’s not just about the internal combustion engine, but also the fuel, the battery… and the car. And then there is what I think represents our great advantage. The driver has to be intelligent and clever in using the battery power. And there is a driver who knows how to go fast and think at the same time. That should give us an advantage.”
Without naming him, the reference is clearly to Max Verstappen, who has made the difference in recent years and is now competing for his fifth World Championship.
The 2026 car is in production, but there is still a huge amount of work to do
Paul Monaghan, Red Bull’s chief engineer, also commented on the progress of the new car. He was asked how complex the 2026 project is and how much work remains.
“Enormous and a lot. Two simple words to sum it up. Some things are already finalized: the engines are in production, as is much of the car. Making the car run reliably in the world of simulation is difficult, but we will be ready for Barcelona, right? As everyone else will be. How ready we are, we will see. 2026 is really a mountain to climb, but it is for everyone. Whether we reach the top first or others get there before us, that’s part of the game. The result is not determined, it is uncertain. But I believe that next year we can be competitive. I think we will have a good car and a good engine. We have extraordinary drivers, so we’ll see how it goes.”
With Verstappen behind the wheel and a team convinced his brain is worth more than any horsepower deficit, Red Bull clearly believes the 2026 fight is far from lost before it has even begun.
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