Red Bull Braces for 'Sleepless Nights' as 2026 Power Unit Challenge Looms

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has openly acknowledged the daunting task ahead for his squad, stating they anticipate "a lot of sleepless nights next year" as they strive to deliver a competitive power unit against established giants like Mercedes and Ferrari. Mekies agreed with Toto Wolff's earlier assertion that Red Bull faces "Mount Everest to climb" when it transitions to a full works team in 2026.

Why it matters:

Formula 1's impending overhaul of chassis and engine regulations for the 2026 season will see the Milton Keynes-based team venture into uncharted territory, manufacturing its own power unit for the first time. Red Bull Powertrains (RBPT) has collaborated closely with Honda in recent years, but with the Japanese manufacturer partnering with Aston Martin, Red Bull will operate independently, also supplying its sister team, Racing Bulls.

The immense challenge:

Mekies described the decision to produce their own power unit as "as crazy as it gets" and an "unbelievable challenge." He stressed it would be "silly" to expect Red Bull, a six-time constructors' champion, to immediately match the level of power unit manufacturers with decades of experience.

"I think Toto is right by saying it’s an Everest to climb," Mekies told media. "That’s what it is. 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."

Red Bull's approach:

Despite the formidable nature of the task, Mekies emphasized that Red Bull will not simply imitate its rivals. Instead, the team is setting up its power unit division "the Red Bull way – at the maximum possible level."

"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."

What's next:

Mekies foresees considerable work throughout the 2026 campaign as Red Bull aims to swiftly close any performance gaps with the long-standing 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."

While not setting specific targets, Mekies affirmed that the team is fully aware they are starting with "a mountain to climb, as Toto said."