After the recent announcement of Helmut Marko’s departure, the Austrian team is facing numerous changes as it prepares for the 2026 season.
The 2026 Formula 1 season will bring huge novelties for teams, drivers, and fans alike. The new regulations could transform the sport in ways we have never seen before. Despite this, one team in particular, aside from Cadillac of course, will start the new year almost from scratch: Red Bull.
The latest media reports have mostly focused on logistical changes within the team, often involving staff members who will leave before the next season. In addition to yet another change in the second seat—this time Yuki Tsunoda will give way to Isack Hadjar—the internal changes within the team are numerous.
Team changes: only Max remains
Everything is new at Red Bull: the only key figure staying for next year, for example since the 2023 season, is Max Verstappen. Adrian Newey has left the team to pursue a new challenge at Aston Martin, and a similar shift has occurred in the collaboration with Honda. Just before the midpoint of this season, a new team principal, Laurent Mekies, also joined the team. Rumors surrounding Christian Horner proved true, as the two-decade-long Red Bull team principal left the team during the 2025 championship.
It’s not only Horner leaving: Helmut Marko, the historic head of the team’s sporting division, will also depart in 2026. A key figure who always had the final say in managing drivers between the main and satellite teams. Certainly, some of the former Austrian driver’s moves were questionable, as Red Bull’s second seat management in recent years has been scandalous: six drivers in just seven years. Nevertheless, it’s thanks to Marko that fans enjoyed champions like Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.
The new official team rookie, Isack Hadjar, will be expected to perform at his best after just one year of Formula 1 experience, occupying one of the hottest seats on the grid. He has already demonstrated pure speed, and Mekies has managed the team dynamics throughout the year, so the French driver has a strong chance to succeed.
Red Bull – the new in-house power unit
For the first time in its Formula 1 history, Red Bull will compete with a power unit built in-house in collaboration with Ford Powertrains. A radical change after “only” 20 years in the top category of motorsport. The partnership with Honda comes to an end after eight years, four drivers’ championships, and two constructors’ titles. The Japanese V6 engine played a crucial role in Red Bull’s history, but it is now time for a new chapter.
Development is almost complete as the 2026 season approaches. According to some previews (all to be confirmed), the engine co-developed with Ford reportedly lacks performance compared to the Mercedes unit, which is expected to be the most competitive pre-season. Considering that Visa Cash App Racing Bulls will also use the same power unit, the workload for the new engine doubles. Meanwhile, a new team, Alpine, will run a Mercedes engine, potentially giving the German team an advantage in the upcoming season.
Nothing is certain for 2026, but Red Bull’s situation is among the most unique on the grid: new regulations, a rebuilt foundation, yet the same hunger for victory.
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