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.
GEORGE RUSSELL ADMITS ANTONELLI IS "EXCEPTIONALLY QUICK" BUT REFUSES TO CONCEDE TITLE
Kimi Antonelli secured his 3rd straight F1 win in Miami, leaving George Russell 43 seconds behind and 20 points down in the title race. (130 chars)
George Russell isn’t flinching. He’s not ready to let go of the story, even as Kimi Antonelli keeps grabbing headlines. Antonelli’s been tearing it up this season – three straight wins, all from pole – and it’s got people talking. Miami was rough for Russell; he finished fourth, over 43 seconds behind Antonelli. That gap isn’t just big; it’s glaring, and it’s putting some real heat on their rivalry at Mercedes.
Russell isn’t pretending things are fine, but he’s not throwing in the towel either. He gets what Antonelli’s doing and gives props where they’re deserved. “He’s a fantastic driver, and he’s been fast since day one,” Russell said. “You don’t win all those championships as a kid if you’re not quick.” He means it, but he’s also drawing a boundary. Russell still believes in himself, and he’s not giving up on the championship.
“I’ve still got confidence in myself, and I haven’t forgotten how to drive,” he said with a little smile. “It’s just a tricky patch, but we’re only four races in; there’s a lot more to come. We’ll sort things out over the next few weeks.”
That “tricky patch” doesn’t just mean some tough luck; it includes a 20-point deficit and a teammate who won’t stop rewriting history. Antonelli’s winning streak has changed the vibe at Mercedes, at least for now.
Russell knows all about momentum and how it doesn’t always stick around. “He’s got momentum right now; he’s flying,” Russell admitted. “But I’ve won championships myself, and I know momentum swings back and forth all year.” He actually doesn’t seem bothered by the points gap. “Honestly, I’m not even thinking about it,” he said.
It’s a calm answer from a guy who’s been here before, leaning on experience while Antonelli rides his hot streak. Russell keeps saying 'big picture, patience, not panic'.
“I just want to get back on top of the podium,” he said. “I had the pace for the first three races, but this weekend I was nowhere close. It could have gone very differently these last few weeks, and this weekend could’ve just been a blip. But some races in Japan and China didn’t go my way. That’s how F1 goes sometimes.”
Still, confidence doesn’t erase a 20-point gap, not if Antonelli keeps cruising. If Antonelli keeps piling up wins, Russell’s going to have to fight more than just the stopwatch. Losing to your teammate over and over starts to mess with your head. Russell began the season as the guy to beat, but the longer this keeps up, the tougher it gets to grab hold of the story again.
He’s holding firm, for now. But F1 doesn’t wait for anyone. What does Russell call “just a tricky run”? Well, if momentum doesn’t swing his way soon, it could become a whole lot more than that.
MAX VERSTAPPEN TAKES FRONT ROW IN MIAMI AS RED BULL UPGRADES DELIVER IMMEDIATE RESULTS
Charles Leclerc admitted surprise at Red Bull's pace after Max Verstappen finished P2, just 0.166s behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli.
Charles Leclerc expected Red Bull to bounce back, but he couldn’t help admiring Max Verstappen’s raw speed at the Miami Grand Prix.
Red Bull rolled into Miami with a big upgrade, looking to recover after a rough start to the season. Verstappen, a four-time world champ, landed his Red Bull in second during qualifying. He was only 0.166 seconds behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes, nearly snatching pole. After qualifying, Verstappen said he finally feels like he’s back in control of his car.
Leclerc was impressed by the turnaround. “Honestly, it’s not shocking to see Kimi up there. Mercedes has been the quickest team this year, and Kimi’s been amazing these last few races,” Leclerc said. “But Max and Red Bull are coming back like this? That’s a bit more surprising. The upgrades clearly worked, and you can’t forget how strong that team really is. You never expect them to just sit back and accept a slow start.”
He added, “We figured they’d come back swinging, but to see them right back on the front row after struggling at the start… that’s something else. It’s pretty remarkable. Still, my job’s the same: beat those guys. That’s where my head’s at right now.”
Leclerc had to settle for third on the grid for Sunday’s race. Ferrari looked strong early in qualifying, but their hopes faded by Q3.
He talked about the changing conditions, but didn’t think that’s what hurt Ferrari. “The wind definitely played a part, but track temperature wasn’t all that different, so I don’t think that’s the reason,” he said. “Maybe the track changed, and we didn’t see it coming, or maybe pushing harder today in qualifying just made our car’s weak spots stand out more.”
Leclerc admitted he hadn’t dug into the numbers yet; he’d just gotten out of the car. “We’ll have to check the details to figure out exactly where we lost time.”
