Red Bull are stepping into uncharted territory this season in Formula 1 , and team boss Laurent Mekies knows there will be no gentle introduction.
As Formula 1 prepares for a sweeping regulation reset in 2026, the Milton Keynes squad are simultaneously embarking on the boldest project in their history: racing with a power unit they have built themselves in partnership with Ford.
Speaking at the team’s season launch in Detroit, Mekies set the tone early. This, he suggested, is not a moment for comfort or caution – but for conviction, patience and resilience.
A Defining Moment for Red Bull
Unveiled alongside sister team Racing Bulls, Red Bull’s new livery launch carried symbolic weight.
Detroit, the historic heartland of Ford, provided the backdrop for the public debut of Red Bull Ford Powertrains – the partnership that will underpin both teams when the new rules arrive.
For Mekies, the timing and the scale of the task could hardly be greater.
“We are entering a striking moment for Formula 1. It’s going to be the biggest change of regulations in Formula 1 history.
“But that was not enough – it’s also the moment where we decided to do our own power unit, with the incredible support from our strategy partner Ford, with us from the very early days.
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“It’s a crazy challenge – perhaps it’s a challenge that only a company like Red Bull and Ford can decide to do, but that’s what we are here for. It’s going to be a year full of challenges, but it’s fundamentally what brings us together.”
The 2026 overhaul will reshape everything from aerodynamics to energy deployment, while Red Bull will simultaneously transition from a customer operation into a full manufacturer.
For a team accustomed to success, Mekies made it clear that expectations must be grounded in realism.
Sleepless Nights Before Long-Term Rewards
Asked what success would look like in Red Bull Ford Powertrains’ first competitive season, Mekies offered a candid assessment: immediate dominance is not the goal – survival, learning and progress are.
“After everything we’ve said on the size of the challenge, of starting from scratch and building everything up, I think going into the first year and going to the first race and thinking to be straight away at the level of the competition – who have been doing it for years – would be naïve,” the Team Principal said.
“We are not naïve. We know it’s going to be a fair amount of struggles, a fair amount of headaches and sleepless nights, but that’s exactly what we are here for.
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“We have the confidence of having put together an amazing group of people, an amazing group of partners, and we will go through the struggles.
“We will eventually come out on top. Bear with us in the first few months, and I think these initial difficulties will be a good reminder of how much we went through to eventually get on top.”
Those words point to a long-term vision rather than short-term reassurance. Red Bull are betting that the pain of the early months will lay the foundation for sustained independence and competitiveness in the years beyond.
Honouring A Vision That Reshaped the Team
That ambition was underscored by another announcement made during the launch: the first power unit produced by the new manufacturer will be named DM01, a tribute to Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz, who died in 2022.
For Mekies, the naming is more than ceremonial – it is a reminder of why the team is willing to embrace such risk.
©RedBull
“It’s his vision, his boldness, that Red Bull spirit,” Mekies explained. “He’s the reason why we are all here today.
“He made that unbelievable decision at the time to put us onto that route of being completely independent with the chassis and the power unit. He was not scared by the scale of the challenge, and today we have our opportunity to pay tribute and hopefully to make him proud.”
Read also: Red Bull shrugs off legality fears over new F1 power unitAs Formula 1 edges closer to its new era, Red Bull are not pretending the road ahead will be smooth.
Instead, Mekies is bracing for adversity – confident that the same daring mindset that brought the team to the front of the grid will eventually carry them through a year of challenges, headaches and sleepless nights.
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