Max Verstappen’s prediction has already come true after Racing Bulls’ first lap with Red Bull engine

Follow us on Google Discover

For the last 10 or so years, reliability hasn’t really been a concern for Formula 1 teams, who had managed the last set of regulations.

For 2026, they are no longer afforded that comfort, with new engine rules in force. One of the most fascinating pre-seasons of all time lies ahead.

Red Bull are one of the teams that have a lot to figure out, particularly with a new engine in the back of their car.

If it doesn’t deliver, then Max Verstappen may be inclined to look at opportunities elsewhere. He likes and wants to win, and the 2026 F1 regulations are the biggest threat to that since he joined them.

Have Red Bull improved Racing Bulls’ image with their rebrands over the years?

Let us know why in the comments!

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

F1 fans said the same thing about Racing Bulls’ car after seeing it hit the track for the first time at Imola in wet conditions.

Liam Lawson was gathering Red Bull’s ‘first real data’ in a private run, but not everything went as smoothly as they might have hoped.

READ MORE: Liam Lawson must correct one concerning 2025 trend after regaining Racing Bulls’ ‘trust’

Max Verstappen’s ‘more time in the garages’ prediction has already come true at Racing Bulls

Ford give Red Bull a ‘key competitive advantage’ by lowering their production times, and not having to work with multiple teams and setups.

But Racing Bulls’ very first day of running with the new engine hasn’t quite been as successful as it could have been.

After completing just one lap, they were stuck in the garage for a while, trying to fix gremlins with their car before completing the rest of their 15km shakedown.

It’s something that Verstappen predicted at the Red Bull launch in Detroit just last week, suggesting that testing will be about spending more time in the garage than on track.

“I think that during the first tests in Barcelona starting on 26 January, we’ll be spending more time in the garages than out on the track,” he said.

“None of us have any idea about the new car or the engine. Hopefully, we’ll all be a bit wiser after the two tests in Bahrain in February.”

READ MORE: Max Verstappen reveals the surprising amount of work he’s done on Red Bull’s 2026 F1 simulator

When was the last time teams battled reliability issues during Formula 1 testing?

Widespread reliability issues are something that fans should come to expect in 2026. If anything, the championship has become way too reliable and predictable over the last few years.

Adding that element of drama to the races is going to make things a little more interesting. It makes developing and improving all the more important.

Back in 2014, some teams really struggled to stay on track with the new 1.6-litre V6 engines, which at the time didn’t have too many fans.

They were quieter and involved more new technologies, but this time around, the changes aren’t as big as they were 12 years ago, so the adjustment shouldn’t be as drastic.