Red Bull’s newly‑established Powertrains unit celebrated its maiden Formula 1 win after Max Verstappen crossed the Bahrain Grand Prix line first, pushing his career tally to 72 victories and confirming Ford’s role in the partnership.
Hall‑mark win for the Bahrain circuit
The 2026 season’s opening race saw Verstappen’s victory become more than a personal achievement; it marked the first success for a chassis and tyre package designed exclusively by Red Bull in partnership with Ford.
Red Bull Powertrains began life in 2021 when Honda announced its departure. Faced with options to lease from Mercedes or Ferrari, the team chose to forge its own engine roadmap.
Now, 16 races in, the partnership’s results are tangible, showing the rapid development pace achieved in just five years from foundation to podium.
Engine evolution highlighted on‑track and behind the scenes
Christian Horner, who oversees the project, captured the moment on Instagram, posting a photo of the bare powertrain, its fresh anodised red covers and gleaming cylinder heads positioned on a dyno rig.
“From a hole in the ground to race winner in five years. Huge congratulations to Red Bull Ford Powertrains, Max and the whole team. An incredible achievement!” Horner captioned the image, underscoring the milestone.
Despite having secured seven podiums earlier in the season, a win has always been elusive for drivers on the Bahrain track since 2003, a wait only broken now through Ford‑backed power unit performance.
Reactions from key figures in motorsport
The win drew praise from former driver‑turned‑commentator Martin Brundle, who said on Sky Sports F1 that “Christian Horner got a very good group of people together to start the Red Bull Powertrains project.” He added that the result was “a hugely impressive victory for the team – power unit and chassis – from Milton Keynes.”
Verstappen, who now has 72 career wins, benefited from the dependable power output, while Red Bull’s focus on chassis integration paid off on the start‑line heavy oil Rolex track.
This success confirms the viability of Ford’s sprint‑start package and points the way to future seasons where Red Bull will seek to continue the momentum gained from a partnership that began in 2021.
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