The victory in Malaysia was not only Red Bull's first triumph of the 2026 Formula 1 season, but also the first win with its own power unit. Former key figures Christian Horner, Helmut Marko, and above all, Dietrich Mateschitz deserve credit for the success, with Horner stressing that five years ago, the Powertrains project was still just “a hole in the ground”.
Red Bull's internal combustion engine has been ranked by the FIA as the best in the field.
The team led by Laurent Mekies would logically have preferred that not to be the case, as it is now the only manufacturer missing out on a development token. But it does underline how Red Bull and Ford have surprised friend and foe alike with the way it has hit the ground running in its debut season.
