Toto Wolff Points to Red Bull's New F1 Engine as the Current Benchmark

Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has identified Red Bull Powertrains' first in-house Formula 1 engine as the current "benchmark" on the grid, following its impressive and reliable debut in pre-season testing. The new power unit, particularly its advanced energy deployment, has set a high bar that rivals, including Mercedes, are now chasing.

Why it matters:

Red Bull's successful transition from a pure customer team to a full-fledged power unit manufacturer is a monumental achievement in modern F1. If their engine maintains this early advantage, it could solidify their dominance for years to come and validate a massive, long-term strategic investment. Wolff's public acknowledgment signals genuine concern within the Mercedes camp about a key performance differentiator for the new season.

The Details:

• The RBPT power unit completed over 100 trouble-free laps on its very first track outing at a Bahrain shakedown, demonstrating immediate reliability.
• During official testing in Bahrain, Max Verstappen's Red Bull showed a significant edge in energy deployment on the straights, which Wolff estimates could be worth up to a second per lap over consecutive laps.
• This superior energy management suggests the RB22 is harvesting energy more efficiently, allowing it to deploy electrical power for longer stretches than its rivals.
• Wolff explicitly dismissed the paddock perception that Mercedes' High-Performance Powertrains (HPP) is ahead, stating "Today, no" when asked if they could match Red Bull in this critical area.
• The project, initiated under former team boss Christian Horner and led by ex-Mercedes engineer Ben Hodgkinson, has been accelerated by a technical partnership with Ford ahead of the 2026 engine regulations.

What's next:

The true competitive picture will only emerge at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix. While Red Bull has set an early benchmark, the learning curve for energy management is still steep for all teams. Mercedes and other manufacturers will be analyzing the data intensely to close the gap. Red Bull's challenge will be to maintain this reliability and performance edge over a full race distance and throughout the demanding 24-race season.