More To Come From Red Bull Powertrains
Red Bull’s first in-house power unit has been a steep learning curve. But technical director Pierre Waché believes the team has barely scratched the surface of its potential.
From 2005 to 2025, Red Bull relied on external engine suppliers — Cosworth, Ferrari, Renault and Honda. In 2026, it took the biggest step yet: developing its own power unit.
Despite a difficult first half of the season, Red Bull’s internal combustion engine reportedly emerged as the most powerful on the grid in FIA testing. The catch? That performance leaves Red Bull outside the development allowances available to Mercedes, Audi, Honda and Ferrari.
Building an F1 power unit from scratch is demanding enough. Integrating it with the chassis adds another layer of complexity. As Waché explained: “You have to do more, and you also feel more responsible for what we can achieve.” Bringing the engine and chassis departments together has taken time, as they work in fundamentally different ways.
Asked to rate the engine project on a scale of one to ten, Waché put it at just “a four or a five.”
His assessment of the remaining potential? “Absolutely, the potential is massive.”
Think about that. Red Bull believes its engine project is barely halfway there — yet the team is already winning races.
With Max Verstappen coming off consecutive victories in Malaysia and Singapore, Red Bull looks increasingly dangerous. If it can turn that untapped potential into performance, 2027 could be a very uncomfortable year for its rivals. 🏎️
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Mercedes Upgrades — and the Titles
Mercedes left Singapore with Kimi Antonelli on the podium and George Russell recovering to ninth from the back. The latest upgrades showed promise but proved harder than expected to optimise. Antonelli will keep the updated car for Austin, with both the championship and 2027 in mind.
Antonelli capitalised on the Hamilton–Norris battle to finish third. But despite closing in on the title, he insists his focus remains on delivering results, not celebrating prematurely.
The updated car has “huge potential,” according to Antonelli, but Mercedes still has plenty of work to do to get everything working as intended. Austin’s three practice sessions should provide valuable time to find the right operating window.
Antonelli is closing in on the title. But with the calendar still uncertain, the championship maths remains unfinished. 🏎️
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Who Will Put a Woman Back on the F1 Grid?
It’s been more than 50 years since a woman last raced in an F1 Grand Prix. Three teenage drivers now hope to change that, backed by More Than Equal, an organisation co-founded by David Coulthard.
Alexia Danielsson, 17, from Sweden, tested an F1 car at just 14. “I don’t see them as boys, I just see them as another competitor.”
Ivonn Simeonova, 16, with Austrian and Bulgarian ties, moved to Vienna to pursue better racing opportunities. But funding remains a major obstacle: “My family is not rich, so we couldn’t afford testing 50 days before going to the first race weekend.”
Gianna Pascoal, 16, from South Africa, started karting at 11 and is now looking towards Europe, where better opportunities — and sponsors — await.
The reality? Competing in F4 can cost around £500,000 a year, before additional testing expenses. Talent alone isn’t enough when the road to F1 is so expensive.
More Than Equal CEO Tom Stanton admits the challenge is immense: “Not only is this K2, but there’s an Everest ahead as well.”
Three young drivers. One enormous challenge. And an F1 grid still waiting for its next woman. 🏎️
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