Max Verstappen proud of Red Bull Ford engine but tempers Melbourne hopes

Max Verstappen says Red Bull can be “proud” of the job which it has done with its first Formula 1 engine, one which ran flawlessly in testing.

However, Verstappen does not believe that the complete RB22 package can compete for victory currently, as the season-opening Australian Grand Prix moves closer into view.

Max Verstappen quells Australian GP victory hopes

Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust.

Red Bull started a huge new chapter in its Formula 1 story by signing up for the new regulations as not only a chassis manufacturer, but as an engine manufacturer too.

These new F1 regulations may not fill Verstappen with much excitement, but, he has already heaped praise on his team for the job which they have done with this first engine.

Working alongside the Ford, the duo’s debut creation has hit the track in F1 2026. Its reliability was rightly applauded, considering that this engine was produced from a start-up operation built completely from scratch over the last few years.

On the reaction from rivals, with Red Bull Ford having been given its flowers for the job done, Verstappen is quoted by RacingNews365 as having said via Viaplay: “I don’t think they expected it either — they probably thought the engine would simply blow up.

“In that respect, we’ve done a superb job and have things well under control. We can definitely be proud of that.”

With the Red Bull Ford engine bolted into the back of his RB22, Verstappen will go hunting for a fifth World Championship.

Verstappen did though quell hopes of making a winning start to F1 2026 in Melbourne.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff and driver George Russell, plus Williams principal James Vowles, were talking up the Red Bull engine’s performance in Bahrain.

“If you then look at the performance, I do think we still need to take a step forward to truly fight at the front,” said Verstappen.

“At this moment, I don’t think we’ll be competing for victory. But you also have to be realistic, that wasn’t our expectation at the start of these regulations with our own engine.”

More on Max Verstappen from PlanetF1.com

Max Verstappen says he is ‘closer to the end’ of F1 career

FIA’s Nikolas Tombazis responds to Max Verstappen criticism over 2026 cars

Verstappen said that since “the regulations are so complex,” there is “always something you can improve.” He pinpointed “correlation” as an area where Red Bull can make progress.

“You always have to take temperature into account, for example, of the engine itself, but also the ambient conditions,” he continued.

“That always has a significant influence on an engine’s performance. In that area, we can still take a step forward.”

The F1 2026 campaign gets underway in Melbourne from 6 March.

Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.

You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!

Read next: Max Verstappen ‘best on the grid’ but Red Bull trails Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren