Fans Confident Red Bull's New Engine Can Deliver Verstappen Fifth Title

A majority of Formula 1 fans believe Red Bull's new in-house power unit will be competitive enough for Max Verstappen to challenge for a fifth world championship in 2026, according to a recent fan poll. This vote of confidence comes as the team navigates the immense challenge of becoming its own engine manufacturer for the first time under new regulations.

Why it matters:

Red Bull's transition from a customer to a full-fledged power unit manufacturer is one of the biggest gambles in the sport's recent history. Its success or failure will not only define the team's competitive future but also reshape the engine supplier landscape. A potent and reliable engine is the cornerstone of any title challenge, making this venture critical for Verstappen's continued dominance.

The details:

• A poll by RacingNews365 revealed that 65.2% of voters believe the Red Bull Ford Powertrains (RBPT) engine will be good enough for Verstappen to fight for the 2026 drivers' title.
• A further 24.6% expect the Dutch driver to secure race wins but not mount a full championship challenge with the new power unit.
• Only a small minority foresee a significant drop in competitiveness, with 9.5% predicting a midfield position and a mere 0.7% believing the team will become a backmarker.
• The positive fan sentiment follows reports of a largely successful and trouble-free first five-day test with the new engine in Barcelona.

What's next:

The 2026 season will be the ultimate test of Red Bull's engineering ambition. While fan optimism is high, the team remains behind established giants like Mercedes and Ferrari in terms of pure engine manufacturing experience. The pre-season development phase will be crucial to translate testing promise into race-winning reliability and performance. If the majority of fans are correct, F1 could be poised for another era of Red Bull and Verstappen supremacy, but if they are wrong, the competitive order could see its biggest shakeup in years.