Liam Lawson has delivered high praise for Red Bull’s first-year power unit effort, revealing that the performance levels achieved in 2026 have exceeded expectations across the paddock.
Red Bull became its own power unit supplier under the new 2026 regulations, with the Milton Keynes operation also providing engines to Racing Bulls. Despite the challenges of bringing everything in-house, the Austrian manufacturer appears to have delivered an exceptionally strong first attempt at power unit development.
Power Unit Emerges as Key Strength
The Racing Bulls driver identified the Red Bull power unit as the standout element of his team’s 2026 package, with consistent performance being extracted at each grand prix so far this season.
“But I think in general, the strengths of our car — for sure, our power unit has been very, very strong. I think, especially for a season one power unit, nobody expected it to be like this. So that’s really been the strong point for us.”
Lawson’s comments suggest Red Bull’s power unit may be among the strongest on the grid, a remarkable achievement for a manufacturer’s debut season. The Faenza-based Racing Bulls team has been fighting at the front of the midfield battle, with the engine package providing a significant boost to overall competitiveness.
Racing Bulls Finding Consistency
The New Zealand driver explained that Racing Bulls has been able to maximise the car’s potential at each race weekend, though he acknowledged areas where further development is needed.
“I think with our car, we’ve extracted — I think we’ve found it not easy, but we’ve found it, I guess, possible. And each weekend we’ve been able to extract everything out of the car, which has been positive. I think obviously we’re lacking just a little bit of raw speed, a little bit of downforce. And I think once we find that, we’ll be in a good place.”
Lawson’s assessment points to a clear development path for Racing Bulls. While the power unit provides a strong foundation, the team is focused on finding additional downforce and raw speed to unlock further performance from the package.
Red Bull’s In-House Gamble Paying Off
Red Bull’s decision to develop its own power units represented a significant strategic gamble. The transition required massive investment in facilities and personnel at the Milton Keynes campus, with the organisation taking full responsibility for both chassis and power unit development for the first time.
While Red Bull Racing has faced various challenges adapting to the new regulatory framework, the power unit side of the operation appears to have exceeded internal targets. The fact that both Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls are benefiting from the same engine package provides validation of the in-house approach.
As the 2026 season progresses, Racing Bulls will look to translate its strong power unit performance into consistent points finishes. The team’s ability to extract maximum performance at each weekend, combined with planned aerodynamic upgrades, could see it emerge as a regular threat in the midfield battle throughout the remainder of the campaign.