The DM01 power unit, developed by Red Bull Powertrains in collaboration with Ford Racing, has made an impressive debut in Barcelona, completing nearly 200 laps without major issues. “It’s not perfect, we need to work on certain aspects, but we’re progressing well,” said Mattia Spini, chief race engineer for Racing Bulls.
One of the standout stories from the first F1 shakedown day in Barcelona was the debut of the DM01, the first power unit produced by Red Bull Powertrains’ new Milton Keynes division. Expectations were high, particularly around the reliability of the new British V6, but the unit exceeded early hopes. Both Isack Hadjar in the Red Bull and Liam Lawson in the Racing Bulls car completed excellent mileage, gathering critical data for tuning and development of the engine, which carries the initials of Dietrich Mateschitz.
Across the two cars, the DM01 completed a total of 196 laps (108 by Hadjar and 88 by Lawson), confirming the early reliability of what many feared could have been the RB22’s Achilles’ heel. While it’s still early to draw definitive conclusions, the high lap count is encouraging for the Milton Keynes team.
Hadjar pleased with first day performance
After the first track session, Isack Hadjar shared his satisfaction with the engine’s performance: “The day was surprisingly productive. We completed more laps than expected. Everything went fairly smoothly, with only minor issues, so it’s impressive considering this was practically the first day with the new engine.”
“Honestly, it was a good first day. It’s not far from the engine I used in my first season. Gear shifts and downshifts worked well. There are still things to sort out, of course, but overall it went well.”
Lawson and Racing Bulls also see positive signs
Meanwhile, Liam Lawson also reported promising results with the VCARB03, which made its track debut yesterday: “We did a lot of laps and learned a lot. We had a few minor issues throughout the day, but these were expected for a first day on track. Considering everything, we’re already in a good position.”
The New Zealander was responsible for one of the three red flags during the session, but the issue was linked to a sensor rather than a mechanical failure. “Honestly, the only problem we had was a precautionary measure, not an actual engine issue. From the engine perspective, we performed very well so far. But it’s hard to know our position compared to the competitors.”
Mattia Spini confirmed Liam Lawson’s comments: “It wasn’t anything significant. It was just a sensor we install in the car to prevent damage, as a precaution. That’s what happened. We adjusted the settings, and in the afternoon everything went perfectly.”
Encouraging signs from the new power unit
Spini also spoke about the DM01’s overall performance, echoing Isack Hadjar’s positive assessment: “The power unit is working well. It’s not perfect, but we didn’t expect it to be. We certainly need to refine a few aspects, but we’re working very well together. At Red Bull Powertrains, and with the engineers both with us and at the factory, communication is very open and honest. The relationship between the two groups is excellent. We’re essentially one team, and we’ve started working very effectively. I’m confident we’ll continue in this direction.”
Both Hadjar and Liam Lawson’s feedback underscores that while the DM01 isn’t flawless, the new Red Bull-Ford collaboration is off to a strong start, gathering valuable data and showing early reliability that bodes well for the upcoming F1 season.
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