Red Bull begins a critical new chapter in its Formula 1 journey in F1 2026 by rolling out its very first engine, developed alongside Ford.<\/p>\n
With the chassis and engine regulations both receiving an overhaul, predicting where the teams and manufacturers will shake out is a lottery. According to Helmut Marko, Red Bull\u2019s former senior advisor and driver programme boss, should the team win a race in F1 2026, then this would be an \u201cunbelievable\u201d achievement.<\/p>\n
Can Red Bull Ford win in F1 2026?<\/p>\n
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for news you can trust.<\/p>\n Marko believes that there will be major reasons to celebrate should Red Bull<\/a> and Ford pull off such a feat.<\/p>\n Following Honda\u2019s initial F1 withdrawal announcement \u2013 a decision later reversed \u2013 Red Bull committed to its own engine programme. It partnered with American automotive giant Ford for the task.<\/p>\n Red Bull has made its name beating the world\u2019s biggest manufacturers to F1 titles, but, now takes on a completely different task in looking to compete on the engine front also.<\/p>\n While appearing on the Beyond the Grid podcast shortly before his Red Bull exit, Marko was asked what success looks like for the Milton Keynes squad in F1 2026.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cIt\u2019s the first time we are doing an engine. It was a big investment, much more than we thought in the beginning, but fortunately, the company still made it possible.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, we are newcomers, but I think if our engine would be a front runner, it\u2019s already a big success.<\/p>\n \u201cOn the chassis side, I don\u2019t hear we are behind or so. So we really have to wait to see.<\/p>\n \u201cBut if we could win with our engine in the first year, that would be unbelievable.\u201d<\/p>\n More on F1 2026 from PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n F1 2026 uncovered: Next-gen cars, new tyres, and design decisions<\/a><\/p>\n Explained: How F1\u2019s new \u2018overtaking mode\u2019 will work in 2026<\/a><\/p>\n As such, Marko was asked what makes Red Bull think that it can take on names such as Mercedes and Ferrari in the power unit game, automotive giants which have been doing this for decades throughout multiple rulesets.<\/p>\n Audi also joins the fray for F1 2026, having taken over Sauber to form their works team, running an Audi engine.<\/p>\n \u201cI would say it\u2019s part that we are a bit crazy,\u201d Marko responded.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd the other thing that if we decide to do something, we do it proper, and we put all the effort, all the passion behind it.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I mean, motor racing is a team sport, so you need this passion through the whole team to get successful.\u201d<\/p>\n Red Bull\u2019s four-time World Champion Max Verstappen will be out for redemption in F1 2026, having been narrowly pipped to the 2025 title by Lando Norris.<\/p>\n Verstappen has a new Red Bull teammate for the coming season in the form of Isack Hadjar. The Frenchman steps up to Red Bull Racing after an impressive rookie season with Racing Bulls.<\/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