Red Bull's In-House Engine Hits the Track in Emotional Barcelona Milestone

Red Bull's 2026 car, the RB22, has completed its first on-track laps powered by the team's inaugural in-house Red Bull Ford power unit during pre-season testing in Barcelona, marking a pivotal and emotional moment for the new powertrains division.

Why it matters:

This shakedown represents the culmination of years of work since Red Bull announced its plans to become a full-fledged constructor with its own engine. Successfully designing and building a competitive power unit is the final, most complex piece of the puzzle for a team aiming for long-term dominance post-2026 regulation changes, moving it away from customer status with Honda.

The details:

• The milestone follows the Racing Bulls (VCARB) team's initial shakedown at Imola last week, with the full Red Bull Racing car now running its own PU.
• Emotional Response: Red Bull Ford Powertrains Technical Director Ben Hodgkinson called it a "dream come true," expressing immense pride in the team's achievement. Head of PU Operations Steve Brodie added he was "blown away" by the confident start to on-track running.
• Driver Lineup: Isack Hadjar drove the car on Monday, with reigning champion Max Verstappen taking his first turn at the wheel a day later.
• Setback: Verstappen's planned running for Thursday was cancelled. Following a crash for Hadjar earlier in the test, additional parts need to be flown in from the team's factory in Milton Keynes, delaying the schedule.

What's next:

The focus now shifts to a relentless testing and development program. These initial laps provide critical data, but the real challenge is refining reliability and performance over the coming months to ensure the power unit is a competitive force when the new 2026 regulations take full effect. The incident with Hadjar's car is a reminder of the teething problems inherent in any new project.