Red Bull dismisses speculation over legality of 2026 power unit

January 17, 2026 Oliver Obel

As Formula One edges closer to a sweeping regulatory reset, Red Bull Racing has pushed back against speculation questioning the legality of its 2026 engine project.

The new season begins in Melbourne on March 5 and marks the start of a radically different era for the sport, with revised technical rules reshaping both chassis and power unit design. While teams are still months away from competitive running, early debate has already emerged around who may gain an advantage under the new framework.

Scrutiny on new engine rules

Much of the discussion has centred on the revised internal combustion engine regulations, which will see the maximum compression ratio reduced from 18:1 to 16:1. The adjustment was introduced by the FIA to simplify engine design and lower barriers for manufacturers entering the sport.

In recent weeks, industry reporting has suggested that Mercedes and Red Bull could be well positioned for the new cycle, prompting rival manufacturers to examine whether the rules leave room for interpretation. Some have questioned whether certain designs could meet the compression limit during mandatory static checks, yet operate differently once engines are running at higher temperatures.

Those concerns have been informally raised within the paddock, adding to speculation ahead of the season launch.

Red Bull–Ford project takes centre stage

Red Bull unveiled its 2026 car in the early hours of Friday, alongside sister team Racing Bulls, during a launch event that also highlighted its new partnership with Ford. The collaboration marks a significant milestone, with Red Bull Powertrains producing its own engines for the first time in the team’s history following four years of development.

Initial reports focusing on the project pointed to Red Bull’s compression ratio design as a potential competitive strength, a claim that helped fuel broader debate over regulatory compliance.

Hodgkinson responds to rumours

Speaking at the launch, Red Bull Powertrains director Ben Hodgkinson rejected suggestions that the team was operating outside the rules.

“I think there’s some nervousness from various power unit manufacturers that there might be some clever engineering going on in some teams,” Hodgkinson said. “I’m not quite sure how much of it to listen to, to be honest.”

He added that pushing designs toward regulatory limits was standard practice across the grid. “I know what we’re doing, and I’m confident that what we’re doing is legal. Of course, we’ve taken it right to the very limit of what the regulations allow.”

Hodgkinson downplayed the wider controversy, describing it as “a lot of noise about nothing,” and predicted convergence across manufacturers once engines are measured under the new rules.

“I expect everyone’s going to be sitting at 16,” he said. “Every manufacturer should really be aiming at 15.999 as far as they dare when it’s measured.”

Looking ahead

Red Bull head into the new era widely regarded as one of the teams to watch, though the true competitive picture will only become clear once cars run on track. For now, the team insists its focus remains on execution rather than speculation, as scrutiny from rivals and regulators continues to build ahead of Formula One’s next chapter.

Sources: Team launch statements, Formula One regulatory reporting