Red Bull’s 2026 engine project stuns F1 rivals: “An extraordinary job”. Red Bull stunned its rivals during pre-season testing, showcasing incredible work on the RB22.

Red Bull impresses rivals: “Extraordinary work”

Red Bull has left its competitors in awe during pre-season testing. Many believe the Austrian team has yet to reveal the full potential of the RB22, with Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar potentially making a strong impression as soon as Melbourne. The 2026 season will also mark Red Bull’s first championship without a Honda power unit, while inaugurating their new collaboration with the Ford group.

Alpine chief praises Red Bull’s work

Steve Nielsen, Alpine’s managing director, lauded the work carried out in Milton Keynes and Detroit (Ford headquarters): “Honestly, Red Bull has done an extraordinary job. Four years ago, that PU manufacturer was a hole in the ground at Milton Keynes, and look at it today. It’s an outstanding effort, of course: they have done really well, and this is thanks to everyone involved. Our job is to do better and try to beat them.”

The goal for Alpine? To replicate Red Bull

In particular, Red Bull’s energy management strategies and power distribution—especially through Max Verstappen—have caught the attention of rivals. When Nielsen was asked if Alpine intended to replicate the Austrian team’s work, he responded without hesitation:

“Well, we are all shameless copycats [referring to the rest of the paddock]. We’ll watch everything anyone else does on and off the track, and if we like it, we’ll replicate it. It’s constant observation. In the end, the team that interprets this regulation best will win,” he concluded.

The wait is almost over: in exactly one week, the cars will return to the track in Melbourne for the season-opening Grand Prix.

The transition of Red Bull from a customer team to a fully-fledged manufacturer is perhaps the most significant narrative of the 2026 season. By building a power unit from scratch and securing the backing of a global giant like Ford, they have moved from a position of uncertainty to one of intimidation, forcing rivals like Alpine to openly admit they are playing catch-up. Nielsen’s comments about being a “shameless plagiarist” highlight the fierce, technical copycat game that defines Formula 1; if Red Bull has truly cracked the code for the new hybrid era, it won’t be long before we see similar philosophies appearing across the grid.