The Red Bull CEO has once again addressed the issue of high-profile departures from the team at a time when the 2026 power unit regulations are generating intense debate across the Formula 1 paddock.
From mid-2024 onwards, Red Bull appeared to have lost some of the performance that had allowed Max Verstappen to secure three consecutive world championships. Even so, the team rolled up its sleeves, returned to winning form towards the end of 2024 and came close to achieving another major success during the 2025 season. All of this happened despite a series of significant departures that could, or could not, destabilise the Austrian team as it looks ahead to 2026.
In recent days, Red Bull has found itself at the centre of attention alongside Mercedes after identifying what appears to be a grey area within the 2026 engine regulations.
The regulations set the compression ratio at 16:1, but this value is only checked when the engine is cold. By exploiting the thermal expansion of engine components, the effective compression ratio on track could rise towards 18:1 without formally breaching the rules. This potential loophole could offer a performance advantage and has already triggered protests from rival teams.
The topic remains extremely hot and has, for now, shifted attention away from what until a few days ago seemed to be a period of fragility for the Austrian team. Over the space of roughly a year, Red Bull has lost several key figures. Among the most notable names are Christian Horner, Helmut Marko, Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley.
The words of the Red Bull CEO
Even in such a chaotic context, Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff has sought to reassure everyone about the future of the team. “I am not worried,” Mintzlaff told De Telegraaf. “I know that we are replacing all of those people in the right way. In some countries there is generally a certain resistance to change, but I like it, because I know it makes us better and pushes us out of our comfort zone.”
“Already last year we could see that things were starting not to work,” he added. “We gave those responsible the opportunity to step in this year. I do not want to react impulsively after two or three bad races, but last July the time came to do what we did.”
The statements from the Red Bull CEO, combined with the ongoing speculation surrounding the discovered grey area in the 2026 engine regulations, suggest that Red Bull will be anything but a mere spectator in the 2026 Formula 1 season.
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