Ford boss just provided an update on Red Bull’s 2026 engine that Max Verstappen will love

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Max Verstappen is heading into the 2026 Formula 1 season with the least certainty that he can compete for a title in a long time.

He has been a title contender for Red Bull in every season since 2020, but the 2026 F1 regulations are going to throw up a major curveball.

Verstappen must get used to a new engine, which has been developed in partnership with Ford for some time.

As shown during the last drastic changes in 2014, Red Bull might struggle to hit the ground running with their units, making a push for the drivers’ championship unlikely.

Is Max Verstappen making an excuse for losing out on the 2025 F1 title to Lando Norris?

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Red Bull have ‘internally’ eased Verstappen’s fears about the new power unit, but the proof will be in the pudding. If it runs reliably, that will be the best way to calm down any nerves.

Amid multiple rumours, Red Bull are worried about Gianpiero Lambiase leaving the team, too, which could destabilise their driver a little.

READ MORE: Red Bull have already decided on Max Verstappen’s new race engineer if Gianpiero Lambiase leaves

Max Verstappen will love what Mark Rushbrook just said about Red Bull’s 2026 engine

After hearing it for the first time, Verstappen called Red Bull’s 2026 engine ‘crisp’, and is now less than four weeks away from the very first day of testing.

That’s when he’ll really be able to learn about the driveability of his new machine and how it differs from the units he has driven before.

Ford Performance director Mark Rushbrook has just delivered an update on the 2026 engine that Verstappen will love to hear. It sounds as if things are going swimmingly.

“We are to plan, so where we need to be, but it all comes together when it’s actually in the car and on track,” he told Motorsport.com.

“So that first day of testing is an important date, and an important week. It’s when we get to see how all this hard work in the past three years is going to pay off.”

Oliver Minzlaff expects Verstappen to ‘remain loyal’ to Red Bull, even if they encounter a turbulent period over the next 12 months. Crazier things have happened in Formula 1, though.

READ MORE: Martin Brundle made one Max Verstappen presumption in 2025 that was really off the mark

Should Max Verstappen remain at Red Bull for 2027?

Looking to the future without seeing the 2026 cars on track is hard, and Verstappen knows exactly that. It’s why talks with Mercedes didn’t progress in the summer.

Once he has an estimation of how everyone stacks up against each other, then he can begin to make moves for the future.

Red Bull as an organisation have changed so much over the last 18 months, that they aren’t anything like the team they were when he joined them.

Maybe he wants a new challenge with Aston Martin and to reunite with old friends. Adrian Newey has the potential to work wonders, but might need some time first, as he did at Red Bull.