WHY IS MAX VERSTAPPEN "NERVOUS" ABOUT THE NEW RED BULL-FORD 2026 ENGINE RESULTS
Mark Rushbrook confirms Red Bull-Ford has met its 2026 engine goals. Discover how this impacts Max Verstappen’s future in F1.
Mark Rushbrook, Ford Motorsport's global director, gave an update on Red Bull's engine for the 2026 F1 rules, which is good news for Max Verstappen.
Red Bull is making its own engines for the first time in F1, instead of getting them from someone like Honda. Ford is there to help with tech stuff, and their partnership seems to be going well.
Since Red Bull has never powered an F1 car before, this is a big step into the unknown, and it could be risky for Verstappen.
The guy might have a bad season if Red Bull can't figure out how to make a good F1 engine right away.
The private test next month in Barcelona will be the first real look at the engine for Red Bull and Ford. Rushbrook says things are going as they planned.
Rushbrook told Motorsport.com that they are on schedule, but they won't know for sure until the car hits the track. That will be a big day and week, and they will see if the last three years of work paid off.
Even though things are moving forward, Ford is still a bit nervous. Rushbrook said that they can only learn so much from the test data so far.
Rushbrook admitted that they always get a little nervous when a car or engine goes out on the track for the first time.
He added that their computer tools are good for designing stuff, and their labs are good for working on the hardware, but they won't know everything until they put it all together on the track.
They can test a lot in their virtual setup, but they don't know if they will see things on the track that they couldn't see in the labs.
Red Bull-Ford Goals 'Met'
Rushbrook said that Ford and Red Bull have met the goals they set for their F1 engine at the start.
Now, they're focusing on how the engine drives, which Rushbrook said is super important for the new F1 engines.
When asked what parts of the new engine will be most important, Rushbrook said it's about power, performance, reliability, and how it drives.
He said that they've met their goals and that they're now working on how the engine drives and calibrating it.
They can do some of that with computers, some in the lab, and some with drivers in the simulator. That's what they're working on now.
A lot is still unknown for every F1 engine maker when it comes to the 2026 rules, which are the biggest changes ever in the sport.
This has made it hard to set goals.
Rushbrook said that everyone is trying to do the same thing; he thinks
Rushbrook said that their goals are based on the rules that everyone has to follow.
From there, they can figure out what's possible, and that's their goal. So, he thinks everyone has been trying to do the same thing.
Since everyone is dealing with the same physics, all the engineers probably came up with similar ideas.
SERGIO PEREZ BREAKS SILENCE ON CADILLAC’S FIRST FOUR RACES OF 2026 F1 SEASON
Discover why Sergio Perez is confident in Cadillac’s 2026 path despite urgent needs for better pace and reliability fixes.
Sergio Perez didn’t waste time sharing his thoughts on Cadillac after the first four races of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Cadillac shows up in 2026 as F1’s newest team, but honestly, not a lot of people expected fireworks right away. With veterans like Valtteri Bottas and Perez behind the wheel, the team’s start has been a mix, some moments full of promise, others derailed by reliability issues.
Still, Cadillac isn’t just stuck at the back. Lately, they’ve been right there fighting with Aston Martin and even managed to split them in Miami, which turned a few heads.
Perez knows the team is at risk of falling behind in this crazy-fast development race, though. “We still have work to do, but I’m confident we’re on the right path,” he told reporters, including Motorsport Week.
He added, “Sometimes, once tyre degradation sets in, we can hang with the midfield, but they always seem to find another gear. There’s a long way to go this season, but we’re in a rush to find more pace. We know Aston will get stronger, and we don’t want to be left behind.”
Racing Aston Martin has actually brought Perez some enjoyment. He especially likes battling Fernando Alonso, calling those fights fair and satisfying. Still, he pointed out a weak spot: “We’re having fun with them. Racing Fernando is always great because he’s so fair. But we struggled with tyre degradation; we burnt through them too quickly. We picked the hard compound, but honestly, looking back, I should’ve gone with the soft.”
He said there’s plenty to analyse, and really, the key is getting a better grip on their car as they look ahead to Canada. “We don’t have much time, but in the short term, we need to fix the degradation. We have some ideas, but putting them together is our biggest challenge in the next few weeks.”
Cadillac may be the new kid on the block and still finding its feet, but it’s already starting to make an impact. The road out of the lower ranks won’t be easy, but they’re moving in the right direction.
HOW KIMI ANTONELLI’S THREE-RACE WIN STREAK IS REDEFINING THE MERCEDES TEAM HIERARCHY
With a 43-second gap in Miami, Antonelli proves he’s ready to lead the World Championship. Can Russell bounce back in Canada?
David Coulthard, the former Formula 1 driver, recently pointed out that Kimi Antonelli might be on track to overtake George Russell as Mercedes’ team leader.
Antonelli has been on an impressive run, clinching victories in the last three races and pulling ahead by 20 points over his main competitor and teammate, Russell.
At the Miami race, the young Italian once again outperformed his more seasoned teammate, with Russell managing only fourth place, trailing by 43 seconds.
Coulthard acknowledged Antonelli’s rapid rise in 2026, which is just his second season in F1. He highlighted Antonelli’s strengths and suggested that the Italian is, in many ways, now leading the Mercedes team.
“He’s come of age,” Coulthard said during the Up To Speed podcast.
Despite being relatively new, Antonelli has shown resilience, dealing not only with the pressure from a driver like Lando ready to strike but also with technical glitches like inconsistent paddle shifts. Coulthard mentioned how Antonelli kept his cool even when his engineer, Bono, was trying to help troubleshoot the issue in a tense moment.
“I think he’s earned the right to lead the World Championship,” Coulthard added, noting that this situation probably feels uncomfortable for George. Still, the expectations now lean heavily toward Antonelli leading the team, especially based on recent results.
Coulthard also pointed out that Russell has the experience and skill to reclaim his position as the team’s lead driver, but emphasised that only one can come out on top; someone must finish first and the other second.
The rivalry between them might start opening doors for other teams. Coulthard noted that improvements from McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull were already noticeable, especially in Miami.
“Winning in the best car isn’t always straightforward. Many have tried and struggled,” he said.
For Russell, who is feeling the weight of this momentum shift, the upcoming race in Canada will be crucial if he wants to close the gap and halt Antonelli’s winning streak.
