Toto Wolff Skeptical of Red Bull's 2026 Engine Project, Jokes About Performance

Red Bull Racing faces a "Mount Everest" challenge in 2026 as it launches its self-engine project, Red Bull Powertrains. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff openly questions the team's immediate competitiveness, even jokingly stating they "are gonna be sh*t."

Why it matters:

Building a competitive Formula 1 power unit from scratch is an immense undertaking. Mercedes' engine departments have developed over decades, highlighting the scale of Red Bull's ambition. Success in 2026 will heavily depend on this new engine.

The big picture:

• Origin of the project: Red Bull sought a new engine partner after Honda's withdrawal in 2021.
• Porsche deal collapsed: Initial talks with Porsche for a 50% team ownership and power unit supply fell apart, reportedly because Christian Horner wanted Red Bull to retain full independence.
• Self-reliance: Dietrich Mateschitz's vision for Red Bull to stand on its own legs drove the decision to develop their own engine, with Ford joining as a technical partner.

Wolff's perspective:

Wolff acknowledges the immense difficulty but also Red Bull's capacity for surprise. "You can never underestimate anyone in this sport who has the firepower to build something from scratch with new ideas," he stated. He pointed out:

• Engine departments have grown over "tens of years."
• The odds are against them, but innovation could lead to a "surprise."
• New regulations offer dyno allocation advantages to teams whose engines are behind, allowing them to catch up over time.

What's next:

While Red Bull faces a daunting task, Wolff recalled similar skepticism when Red Bull first entered F1 with their chassis team, competing against established giants like Ferrari and Mercedes. "Everybody joked that an energy drink company is trying to compete... and they won at the end. Maybe we'll talk differently in five years." The 2026 season will reveal if Red Bull Powertrains can replicate the chassis team's success.