Red Bull-Ford Engine on Track Soon as Verstappen Named 2025's Best Driver

With the 2026 F1 season on the horizon, Ford confirms its highly-anticipated power unit with Red Bull is on schedule for its on-track debut. This comes as the 2025 season officially draws to a close, with team principals naming Max Verstappen the year's best driver, despite Lando Norris clinching the world title, highlighting a fascinating end to the year.

Why it matters:

The performance of the Red Bull-Ford power unit is a critical variable that could redefine the competitive order for the next era of F1. Simultaneously, the team principals' vote underscores the high regard for Verstappen's driving ability, separate from the championship outcome, and adds a fascinating layer to the narrative of the 2025 season.

The details:

• Red Bull-Ford Progress: Ford Racing global director Mark Rushbrook stated the 2026 power unit project is "to plan" but emphasized that the real test will be the first day of track testing.
  • The key unknown is how the unit will perform outside of lab simulations, where factors like real-world cooling and integration cannot be fully replicated.
• Verstappen Voted Best: For the fifth consecutive year, Max Verstappen was voted the best driver of the season by F1 team principals in an anonymous poll.
• Champion Runner-Up: 2025 World Champion Lando Norris finished second in the voting, creating a compelling split between the title winner and the peers' choice for the top driver.
• Bearman's Future: Ferrari prospect Oliver Bearman highlighted the importance of the new regulations, noting that having the same power unit as Ferrari will be crucial for his career aspirations.

What's next:

The first real test for the Red Bull-Ford unit will be during pre-season testing, where its true performance and reliability will be revealed against the backdrop of a major regulatory reset. All eyes will be on whether the new partnership can challenge the established frontrunners and potentially shake up the 2026 grid.