Sébastien Buemi praises Red bull: “Building a power unit from scratch is an incredible achievement”. Sébastien Buemi has praised Red bull’s ambitious power unit project.

Four-time WEC World Champion with Toyota in the Hypercar category (a programme he is still part of today with the same manufacturer) and Formula E champion in the 2015/2016 season, Sébastien Buemi has also completed three seasons in Formula 1 with the then Toro Rosso team, now known as Racing Bulls.

The Swiss driver has therefore built a solid and respected career across multiple areas of motorsport, and he currently also works as a simulator test driver for Red bull.

The new regulations

Speaking specifically about the Milton Keynes-based squad, which is currently experiencing a difficult phase in the early part of the season, Sébastien Buemi commented on the team’s initial work under the new technical regulations introduced this year in Formula 1:

“The situation is the same for everyone. I think saving energy is the right approach, but in qualifying it is taken to extremes. In Melbourne we already achieved a strong result when Isack Hajar qualified on the second row, and the same applies to Max Verstappen’s comeback in the race,” he told Speedweek.com during the Imola 6 Hours weekend. “Shanghai and Suzuka were more difficult.”

Red bull should not be underestimated

Sébastien Buemi also highlighted the work done by Red bull, insisting that the team should not be underestimated despite its current struggles:

“People often forget that the team built the power unit from scratch. That is an incredible achievement. Who else has built such a complex engine from zero and immediately gone on to win? Of course, everyone is used to seeing Max always at the front. But both he and the team need time. I would not write Red bull off just yet.”

The long-term vision of the Red Bull Powertrains project is what matters most. As Sébastien Buemi suggests, the fact that the team is already competitive with a self-built unit is a testament to the technical depth at Milton Keynes. As the season progresses and more data is gathered, the gap to the established manufacturers is expected to close, potentially setting the stage for a dramatic second half of the championship as Verstappen and the team find their rhythm with the new hardware.