Max Verstappen’s hopes in the world championship largely depend on the speed with which Red Bull has managed to catch up with its competitors. For the first time, the team faces the challenge of producing its own power units, a crucial milestone for the team’s future. Red Bull’s head of engines has admitted the importance of this process, while Laurent Mekies, team principal, anticipates they could be “lagging behind” at the start of the season. Verstappen, after having dominated the sport and winning four consecutive titles, was forced to concede his crown to Lando Norris at the end of last season in Abu Dhabi. These championships were powered by Honda, but now Red Bull is embarking on the ambitious project of producing its own power units in collaboration with Ford.
Ben Hodgkinson, technical director of Red Bull Ford Powertrains, believes that the work done will allow the team to compete at the front of the grid. With 27 years of experience in the industry, Hodgkinson is confident in the team’s potential and the facilities built. Hodgkinson emphasizes the importance of staying humble and assuming there is always room for improvement, which drives the team to give their best. Hodgkinson believes that the team and the facilities they have built are better than those of anyone else, and states that “we’ll see what happens”.We know it will come with some difficulties. We know we are going to have many sleepless nights and some headaches, but please, be patient with us during the first months.
Laurent Mekies
