Red Bull Ford's 2026 F1 engine shows promise—but can it challenge Mercedes?

A midfield slump has Red Bull Racing desperate for a turnaround. Could Ford's latest engine—and a possible Alonso Indy 500 return—shake up the grid?

, and Administrator

2026 February 8 . 10:12 AM

1 min read

The image shows a drawing of a train engine on a piece of paper with text written on it. The engine... — The image shows a drawing of a train engine on a piece of paper with text written on it. The engine is depicted in detail, with its various components and features clearly visible. The text on the paper provides further information about the engine, such as its size, shape, and other specifications.

Red Bull Ford's 2026 F1 engine shows promise—but can it challenge Mercedes?

The 2026 Formula 1 season is shaping up with fresh engine developments and potential driver comebacks. Red Bull Ford's power unit showed promise in Barcelona testing, while McLaren's CEO hinted at a possible return for Fernando Alonso to the Indy 500. The new regulations have left teams uncertain about their true competitive positions.

Red Bull Ford completed 622 laps over three days of testing, placing them third among engine manufacturers. Despite Ford's involvement speeding up development, the partnership has yet to deliver a performance boost. Since the 2023 announcement of their collaboration, Red Bull Racing has struggled with reliability and pace, slipping from title contention to midfield battles in 2024 and 2025.

McLaren CEO Zak Brown expressed surprise at the Red Bull Ford powertrain's showing in Barcelona. He acknowledged Mercedes as the early favourite based on testing but cautioned that much could change before the season starts. Brown also predicted the new regulations would spread out the field, making it harder to forecast the final standings.

Beyond engine developments, Brown left open the possibility of Fernando Alonso returning to the Indy 500. The Spaniard has raced there three times with McLaren, his best result being 21st in 2020. No firm plans have been announced, but the door remains ajar for a future attempt.

The Red Bull Ford engine has shown progress, though its competitive edge remains unproven. McLaren's leadership sees Mercedes as the team to beat but expects shifts as the season unfolds. Meanwhile, Alonso's potential Indy 500 return adds another layer of intrigue to an evolving motorsport landscape.