Max Verstappen confirmed that he has heard the new Red Bull Powertrains-Ford engine fired up, ahead of F1 2026.<\/p>\n
Formula 1 will return to action in 2026 to a very different landscape. New chassis and engine regulations have been introduced, with Red Bull taking the leap of becoming a power unit manufacturer for the first time. Verstappen<\/a> enjoyed the \u201ccrisp\u201d sound which he has heard from the engine ahead of its debut.<\/p>\n Max Verstappen on Red Bull-Ford engine: \u2018It sounded good\u2019<\/p>\n The winds of change will blow through Formula 1 for 2026.<\/p>\n Smaller, lighter cars are on the way, ones which will make use of active aerodynamics on the front and rear wings. This saw the Drag Reduction System [DRS] retired at the end of 2025.<\/p>\n The engines meanwhile will feature a 50\/50 split between electrical and internal combustion engine power.<\/p>\n Energy management and deployment, therefore, is expected to play a critical role in F1 2026.<\/p>\n The new internal combustion engine will run on fully sustainable biofuel.<\/p>\n The Pirelli tyres for F1 2026, meanwhile, will be 25 millimeters narrower at the front and 30mm at the rear.<\/p>\n A particularly intriguing F1 2026 player is Red Bull. Honda has transitioned to powering Aston Martin, which triggered Red Bull to commit to its own engine programme.<\/p>\n Red Bull has partnered with American automotive giant Ford on the engine which will power both Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls from F1 2026.<\/p>\n After missing out on a fifth World Championship by just two points in 2025, Verstappen will be out to reclaim his throne. How performant the first Red Bull-Ford engine proves to be, will play a key role in his chances.<\/p>\n So far, Honda and Mercedes has publicly released the soundtrack to their new engine.<\/p>\n Verstappen was asked on Red Bull\u2019s in-house podcast, \u2018Talking Bull\u2019, whether he had yet heard Red Bull-Ford\u2019s?<\/p>\n Verstappen gave a nod to signal that he has, before quipping: \u201cIt makes a noise!\u201d<\/p>\n He would go on to give a more, detailed, reaction.<\/p>\n \u201cIt sounded good. Of course, you hear it on a dyno, but it sounded, like, crisp.<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, I\u2019m not sure they actually develop on the noise, but it made a good noise.<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, it\u2019s not a V10.\u201d<\/p>\n F1 2026: All the details you need<\/p>\n F1 2026: Confirmed teams and power unit suppliers for F1\u2019s huge regulation changes<\/a><\/p>\n F1 2026 driver line-up: What is the complete grid for the 2026 season?<\/a><\/p>\n Be that as it may, it sounds like a box ticked for the engine noise. Now, we wait to see what the performance will be like.<\/p>\n Verstappen\u2019s manager Raymond Vermeulen<\/a> has been making some encouraging noises on that front.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the reference for next year? Nobody knows,\u201d Vermeulen told the Dutch edition of RacingNews365.<\/p>\n \u201cSo it will be very clear in the first few races how things are panning out. So we start with a fresh approach.<\/p>\n \u201cWe hear good things about the engine, but what is good?<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know, what\u2019s the reference? So let\u2019s wait and see.\u201d<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n