Ford’s Rushbrook on the ‘important week’ that awaits Red Bull

As the clock ticks down toward the most radical technical overhaul in Formula 1’s history, Ford Motorsport global director Mark Rushbrook has provided a tantalizing glimpse into the progress of the Red Bull Ford Powertrains project.

For the first time in its history, Red Bull will produce its own engines, with Ford providing technical support. It’s an ambitious leap into uncharted territory, one that carries risk as Max Verstappen could face a season in an uncompetitive package if the power unit isn’t perfected at first attempt.

While the Red Bull Powertrains unit in Milton Keynes has been humming with activity for three years, the real moment of truth arrives next month. A private test in Barcelona will serve as the world’s first look at whether the Red Bull-Ford marriage can deliver championship-winning horsepower.

Simulations Only Go So Far

"Things are going according to plan and we are where we need to be, but of course it doesn’t really all come together until the car is on the track," Rushbrook told Motorsport.com via RacingNews365.

"That will be an important day and an important week. Only then will we see if all the work of the past three years pays off."

Despite the optimism, Rushbrook isn't immune to the "new engine jitters" that come with such a massive undertaking.

"Well, there is always some nervousness when a new car or engine goes out on the track for the first time," he conceded.

"Our computer tools are good for designing things, and our labs are good for developing and calibrating the hardware, but you haven’t seen it all until it really comes together on the track.

“We can simulate a lot in our virtual environment, but the question remains whether you’re going to see things on the track that you haven’t been able to see in the labs."

The Laws of Physics and the Art of Drivability

According to Rushbrook, the initial benchmarks set by the joint venture haven't just been aimed at – they’ve been hit. However, the focus has now shifted from raw numbers to the delicate art of "drivability," ensuring the massive electrical surge of the 2026 units doesn't become a handful for the drivers.

"It’s about power, performance, reliability and then drivability," Rushbrook explained.

"In terms of the timeline and the goals we set at the beginning of our programme, we met them. In the last few months, the work has mostly gone into drivability and calibration.

“Some of it you can do with computer models, some of it in the lab, and some of it is done with drivers in the simulator. That’s where the focus is now."

With every manufacturer working behind closed doors, Rushbrook believes the competitive spread will come down to execution.

"Basically, it’s all based on the rules that everyone has to stay within," Rushbrook said. "From that, you can calculate what is theoretically possible, and that forms your ultimate goal.

“As a result, I think everyone has been aiming for about the same thing. All the engineers probably came to similar estimates, since everyone is dealing with the same laws of physics. You look at what is theoretically possible, and then it’s about how efficiently you get there, including power transfer in practice."

The first private test in Barcelona next month will finally reveal whether theory and simulation translate into real-world pace – an eagerly awaited moment for Red Bull, Ford, and Verstappen alike.

Read also: Red Bull and Ford jump the gun with 2026 livery reveal date!

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