Red Bull Powertrains ‘learning fast’ but gap to leaders ‘significant’

Red Bull Ford Powertrains may have celebrated a milestone podium in Montreal last time out, but technical director Ben Hodgkinson is making it clear that the fledgling manufacturer is not getting carried away.

Max Verstappen’s third-place finish at the Canadian Grand Prix delivered the first top-three finish in Formula 1 podium for Red Bull’s in-house power unit programme, a project launched just five years ago to take on some of the sport’s most established engine giants in the sport’s new era.

Yet behind the achievement lies a significant reality: the gap to the front remains substantial.

A landmark result, not the finish line

Verstappen crossed the line 11.2 seconds behind race winner Kimi Antonelli and narrowly missed second place, finishing just half a second behind Lewis Hamilton. For a power unit operation built from scratch, it was a significant statement of intent.

“Formula 1 is all about winning, but this first podium finish powered by our own power unit is definitely something worth celebrating, in recognition of the scale of what's been achieved in such a short space of time,” Hodgkinson said.

“Red Bull Ford Powertrains is a newcomer, competing against some of the biggest names in the automotive industry and in motorsport.

“Going head-to-head with them at the front of the field is something the entire team can be proud of.”

The result offered validation after a difficult start to the 2026 campaign, which included reliability setbacks in Australia and China.

Red Bull has also wrestled with a demanding RB22, leaving the team fourth in the constructors’ standings and trailing runaway leaders Mercedes by 162 points after just five rounds.

Learning curve continues

Despite those challenges, Red Bull Ford’s power unit has earned respect throughout the paddock. Its early performance has suggested the programme is far more competitive than many expected for a newcomer facing powerhouse rivals such as Mercedes HPP and Ferrari.

The upcoming ADUO development framework could offer opportunities to close the gap further, but Hodgkinson remains realistic about the scale of the task ahead.

“There's still a long way to go, and we know the gap to the front-runners is significant, but we're learning fast, building capability, and pushing in the right areas,” Hodgkinson concluded.

“We're excited for the next few races as we continue that progression and chase our first win in this new era of Formula 1, where new teams and manufacturers have chosen to compete and develop within the sport.”

For Red Bull Ford, Canada may be remembered as a breakthrough. The next challenge is turning promising progress into a race-winning package.

Read also: Verstappen dreads Monaco in painful RB22: ‘I’ll need a new back’

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook