Yesterday at 06:30
Red Bull expects "a lot of sleepless nights next year" as it fights
to deliver a power unit to rival Mercedes and Ferrari, according to
team principal Laurent Mekies. The Frenchman believes it would be
"silly" to think the six-time constructors' champion can
immediately be at their "level" and agreed with Toto Wolff's remark
that Red Bull will have "Mount Everest to climb" when it becomes a
full works team in 2026. As F1 overhauls its chassis and engine
regulations for that campaign, the Milton Keynes-based squad will
take a step into the unknown, manufacturing its own power unit for
the first time. Red Bull Powertrains (RBPT) has worked closely with
Honda for the past few years, but with the Japanese marque joining
forces with Aston Martin, the Mekies-led team will be going it
alone, whilst also supplying sister outfit Racing Bulls. "I think
Toto is right by saying it's an Everest to climb," the 48-year-old
told media, including RacingNews365 . "That's what it is. "It's as
crazy as it gets to take the decision to do your own power unit, as
Red Bull has done. It's an unbelievable challenge to be associated
with. It's the sort of crazy stuff Red Bull does – so it's a good
feeling." "But we don't underestimate how crazy it is. These guys
have been doing it for 90 years or something like that. "So it
would be silly from our side to think we're going to come here and,
right from the start, be at Ferrari's or Mercedes' level. That
would be silly." Sleepless in Milton Keynes Nonetheless, Mekies was
keen to stress that Red Bull will not merely try and replicate the
approach of its rivals, despite how daunting the challenge might
be. "But it's being set up the Red Bull way – at the maximum
possible level," he added. "We take it step by step. We are trying
to ramp up as quickly as possible – both the PU and the structure
that goes around the PU: the people, the infrastructure. Mekies
anticipates there will be considerable work to be done over the
2026 campaign as Red Bull looks to eradicate any deficits it might
initially find it has to the established power unit providers.
"Then, as I said, we expect a year with a lot of hard work, a lot
of sleepless nights next year to try to get to the right level," he
stated. "But it's a challenge that very much feels like a Red Bull
challenge, and we love that. "We're not going to put a number on
where we think we'll be – because I don't think anybody has a
number – but we know we're starting with a mountain to climb, as
Toto said."
