P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies has warned that the team is braced for “a few very, very tough months” as it adjusts to its new F1 partnership with Ford.
Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies has cautioned that the team is prepared for challenging months as they adapt to the new partnership with Ford in Formula 1. The team from Milton Keynes is stepping into the new 50-50 hybrid era with their own powertrains, developed in collaboration with the American company. This marks Ford’s return to F1 since selling Jaguar Racing to Red Bull in 2024. The transition from the previous Honda partnership has been completed as Honda now partners exclusively with Aston Martin in F1. Team Principal Christian Horner and Mekies have set expectations low for the team’s initial performance in this new era, despite finishing the 2025 season strongly. The decision to build their own power unit with Ford’s support represents a significant challenge for Red Bull, but they embrace it wholeheartedly in their pursuit of success in the sport.
