Johnny Herbert Skeptical of Red Bull's 2026 F1 Performance
Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert believes Red Bull will struggle to return to peak form in 2026, as new technical regulations for aerodynamics and power units loom.
Why it matters: Red Bull, despite its recent dominance, faces a critical juncture. The team is developing its first-ever in-house F1 engine with Ford's assistance, a massive undertaking coinciding with significant internal challenges.
The big picture:
- Regulatory Shift: Major changes to aerodynamic and power unit rules for 2026 are set to reset the F1 pecking order.
- Personnel Shifts: The team has experienced significant internal challenges and the departure of influential figures like technical chief Adrian Newey.
The challenge ahead: Herbert emphasizes that the current team members must prove their capability to maintain Red Bull's success into this new era.
- "The people that are now there, on the ground, the designers and aerodynamicists and the chassis guys and even with the power unit as well, they've got to prove themselves now."
- "A lot of other people that have proven that they were a very important part of Red Bull have gone. And now they’ve declined in a very short space of time and it’s how they rediscover the right mindset to be able to change their mentality to move it in a direction that is going to be more beneficial for 2026.”
In-house engine hurdles: The 2026 power unit regulations represent the biggest change seen in the sport since the turbo-hybrid rules were introduced in 2014. Red Bull's decision to produce its own engine adds another layer of complexity.
- "That is a huge undertaking to be able to, one produce a F1 engine with all the technology that's involved, and two, to make it as good or better than the very experienced Mercedes-Benz, for example."
- "It's going to be interesting to see if they can do that."
What's next: Herbert remains unconvinced about Red Bull's immediate future.
- "Can I see a bounce back next year? No.”