This Ford-partnered power unit hit the track for the first time this year and has since been labelled as the benchmark internal combustion engine by the FIA. Max Verstappen<\/a> also gave the power unit its first win at Sepang, and another in Singapore.<\/p>\n Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Racing Team Principal<\/p>\n Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool<\/p>\n Talking to Motorsport.com about his power train triumph, he said: \u201cIt was arguably the biggest challenge I had in my time at Red Bull, because it was from nothing. There was nothing there. [It was] a complete startup. To see the milestones that engine was achieving, producing [a] manufacturing facility, manufacturing pistons, machining cylinders out of solid blocks, it was amazing, the commitment that went into that project.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was scary as hell because we had no experience of building engines.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n He added: \u201cThe satisfaction of seeing that engine win in its 16th race in its first year, I take great pride in that. Tremendous pride in the people, what they have done and achieved, because in many respects it\u2019s easy to underestimate the challenges of taking an engine from scratch, particularly within the most complex set of engine regulations in the history of the sport, and beating teams and manufacturers with so much more experience.\u201d<\/p>\n The interview comes ahead of the release of Horner\u2019s memoir, Drive, in which he also claims Niki Lauda tried to hire him as Mercedes<\/a> team principal before Toto Wolff took the job.<\/p>\n Red Bull heads to Austin seven points behind McLaren<\/a> in the battle for third in the constructors\u2019 championship.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We want your opinion!<\/p>\n What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?<\/p>\n![\"Isack](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/isack-hadjar-red-bull-racing-m.jpg\")
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