Max Verstappen refused to give too much insight into his expectations for the Red Bull Ford engine that will be unveiled for the 2026 Formula 1 season, after he banished rumours that he could jump ship to Mercedes.
Everything will reset in 2026 when Verstappen‘s team will field a car that’s not been designed by Adrian Newey for the first time in almost 20 years, and powered by a Red Bull Ford engine – not Honda as has been the case since 2019.
“I’m not the one designing the engine but I find it incredibly important to know the basics and see where the project is headed,” Verstappen told members of the press including Total-Motorsport.com.
“The team has hired a lot of good people and honestly the only thing that I can say about it is that everyone is pushing flat out to try and make it the fastest engine possible. I like to be involved with the discussions, it’s a very exciting project for the whole team and I have no doubt that everyone is trying their very best.
“We have to wait and see how everything will be but from what I can see in the factory when I’ve been around, they have all the tools that they need to make it a success and hopefully it will be.”
Verstappen eyes pivotal run of races
Verstappen leads the drivers’ championship by 84 points from Lando Norris, but there’s still an air of desperation hanging over Red Bull with even the team admitting he’s made the difference rather than the car.
More from the Singapore GP
Catch up with Total Motorsport's latest Singapore GP coverage, including Max Verstappen's victory at Marina Bay, Ferrari's costly strategy gamble, the full race classification, and the updated 2026 Formula 1 Drivers' and Constructors' Championship standings.
Teammate Sergio Perez has scored just 15 points in the last six events, underlining McLaren and even Mercedes and Ferrari could be on par with the reigning champions in terms of pace.
Verstappen rescued a second place in mixed conditions last time out at the 2024 British GP and says Red Bull must understand their lack of pace.
“Well, over one lap, it didn’t look too bad,” said Verstappen. “I think it was just pace in the race. We just didn’t have the pace. I couldn’t follow the deg of the others. And that’s something, of course, that we need to understand.”
