Marc Priestley shares what nobody has ‘too much confidence’ in at Red Bull ahead of 2026 rule changes

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Formula 1 is set to get more powerful and greener engines for the 2026 season which is set to shake up the competitive order.

The current 1.6 litre V6 turbocharged hybrids are set to get a facelift, featuring a much more powerful battery component that generates three times the electrical power.

This means it will rise from 120kW to 350kW, while the drivers will also have the option of activating a boost mode that will give them extra power to aid overtaking.

Part of the reason why the FIA has modified the regulations from the current set is to reduce the complexity for prospective engine manufacturers, enabling German car-maker Audi to come in and opening the door to a potential entry for Cadillac from 2028.

It will also see Red Bull convert to becoming a full works outfit for the first time, as it partners with Ford to create its own power units in 2026.

It is a massive undertaking for the Milton Keynes squad, but there are early signs that it might not be as competitive as they think out of the box according to Marc Priestley speaking on his YouTube channel.

Marc Priestley reveals lack of ‘confidence’ in Red Bull 2026 power unit

After winning titles with both Renault and Honda power, Red Bull’s switch to making their own powertrains marks a significant moment in the team’s history.

Honda proved just how difficult it is for big car makers to come in and be competitive out of the box in 2015, having spent a few years taking an embarrassing amount of penalties due to reliability issues.

Discussing the future of Red Bull, Priestley highlights a key reason why he thinks the Milton Keynes squad will struggle to match the other engine-makers on the grid.

“In 2026 I don’t think anyone has too much confidence in this new Red Bull engine, whereas the Mercedes engine I think people do have confidence in it,” said Priestley.

“That may be misplaced, because until we see an engine and see the components of it, no-one really knows. But they have experience of delivering strong results on the power unit front of Mercedes which Red Bull do not have.”

Red Bull has complained about 2026 regulations

Red Bull has previously criticised the 2026 regulations, largely due to the 50/50 split between the electric and combustion engine power.

They recently lost a bid to get the ratio adjusted, leading to concerns over the effects it might have on the chassis rules.

The FIA has deferred signing off the full rule package until October when a final decision is set to be made before the teams start work on the cars in January.

READ MORE: Everything we know about F1’s 2026 regulation changes so far from engines to tyres

There is going to be six different engine manufacturers in F1 for the 2026 season: RBPT, Ferrari, Mercedes, Honda, Renault and Audi.

There is some uncertainty over whether Renault will continue after Alpine team principal Bruno Famin revealed they would be scaling back its power unit operations, with rumours it could be sold off to GM to aid an entry for Andretti.