🚨| Red Bull's Engine Sets Benchmark for F1 2026:
— The FIA has provisionally identified the Red Bull Powertrains engine as the benchmark for the 2026 F1 season. This revelation comes from a document detailing development allowances for teams. Speaking to media, sources confirmed:
“Red Bull Powertrains DM01 engine is set to be revealed as the engine to beat.”
— The FIA's Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) system allows power unit manufacturers to upgrade their engines. Mercedes, indexed as the second-best performer, will receive one upgrade opportunity. Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton commented on the ADUO allowances:
“RBPT was the benchmark ahead of Mercedes, with Ferrari, Audi, and Honda at the back.”
— Audi, qualifying for at least one ADUO allowance, acknowledged the gap in engine performance compared to competitors. Speaking to media, Audi stated:
“This is entirely in line with what to be expected as our data has consistently shown that whilst the chassis of the R26 is delivering well, the major gap to our competitors is to be found in the engine.”
— Mark Rushbrook, Ford's motorsport boss, expressed pride in the partnership with Red Bull Powertrains:
“We're very happy with where we are right now.”
“The partnership with them has been incredible to develop an all-new power train together with them, based in Milton Keynes, and I'm incredibly proud to have that power unit on track in the Red Bull Racing cars and the Racing Bulls cars as well.”
“So it's a very proud moment for Ford Motor Company, Ford Racing, and all of our employees.”
“We're very happy with the partnership with Ben Hodgkinson as he leads the power trains part of the business, and with Laurent, with what he's been doing overall with the racing team, very happy with everything that we're doing there.”
“Obviously, we want to compete to win races and win championships. We would love to be further up the grid but, at this point, we're happy that we're in the part of the grid where we are, the top half, and knowing the capability that exists within Milton Keynes.”
#redbullracing 🇦🇹
#f12026
VIA: [PLANET F1]