The ground effect rule has propelled Red Bull to new heights of success and domination. While the team started slowly in 2022, they were unstoppable in 2023. As a result, Max Verstappen won three consecutive world titles and is inching towards his fourth. However, like everything, Red Bull Racing’s dominance isn’t destined to last forever. The team has faced challenges on multiple fronts as rivals have disrupted their winning streak.
Further, 2025 will mark the end of ground effect laws, and 2026 will have some drastic changes. The biggest of them all is the power unit regulations. While Red Bull is confident in its upcoming powertrain plan, Max Verstappen has issued a subtle warning.
Red Bull Needs To Be ‘Realistic’ As The Battle Is Against The Power Unit Specialists
The Milton Keynes-based outfit currently relies on Honda for the engines. However, with the upcoming next-generation engine era, RBR has launched its own project to manufacture the PUs. In a technical collaboration with Ford, RBR will manage the entire production of power units for VCARB and Oracle Red Bull. However, Mercedes, a fierce rival of Red Bull, is a master in engine manufacturing. The German Marque has been catering to the power unit needs of several F1 teams with world-class results. Thus, they’re the favorites to dominate this new era.
In a recent interview with Formula.hu, Max Verstappen shared his perspective on the upcoming engine project, expressing both confidence and realism. He acknowledged the challenge of competing against established engine manufacturers with over a century of experience while also noting that Red Bull has brought on board a lot of new talent to support their efforts. Verstappen emphasized his balanced approach towards the project. Moreover, he prefers not to be overly optimistic or pessimistic, opting instead to remain neutral and patient. He stressed the importance of allowing time for things to stabilize and align, reflecting on the future beyond 2026.
On the other hand, the Dutchman also addressed the new Formula 1 regulations set to take effect in 2026. Verstappen maintained a neutral stance, highlighting the inherent difficulty in predicting the impact of such changes. He conveyed a similar approach to the current regulations, observing and assessing their effects over time.
Verstappen’s Classic Response To F1 Future Query: ‘Knowing The Future Makes Life Boring’
Further, the reigning world champion expressed that knowing what the future holds would make life less exciting. He emphasized that making mistakes and not knowing every outcome are essential parts of life’s journey. For Verstappen, the unpredictability of the future adds to the thrill and enjoyment of his experiences. Reflecting on his early days in Formula 1, Verstappen was asked what advice he would give to his 16-year-old self just before his debut. The Dutch driver, who became the youngest-ever F1 debutant at 17 years and 166 days in 2015 with Toro Rosso, replied that he has no advice to offer his younger self. The RBR triple champion believes in living in the moment and prefers not to have any foreknowledge of what lies ahead.
Further, Verstappen also noted that he doesn’t believe in fortune-tellers or future predictions. He would rather experience life’s events as they come, including not knowing personal details such as the time of his own death. For him, embracing the present and relishing each moment is more valuable than having advanced knowledge of future outcomes.
