Rookie Isack Hadjar has revealed that he entered F1 2026 pre-season testing with “many, many doubts” about Red Bull’s new power unit.
For the first time, Red Bull is producing its own engines through its Powertrains division, in collaboration with US manufacturer Ford.
Hadjar, however, confirmed that his concerns were “cleared very quickly” once he got on track, with the new Red Bull-Ford power unit delivering reassuring performance and reliability during testing.
The early confidence bodes well for the rookie as he prepares for his first season alongside Max Verstappen in the newly regulated 2026 F1 era.
Rookie Isack Hadjar has joined Red Bull Racing for the 2026 season after an impressive debut campaign with the team’s sister outfit, the Racing Bulls, in 2025.
Hadjar told that the new Red Bull-Ford power unit exceeded his expectations. “It’s way beyond what I anticipated,” he said. “Towards the end of last season, the impression was not very positive — even within the team, there were doubts. But at the Barcelona shakedown in January, on day one, I did 110 laps straight away, and I was very — in a positive way — surprised. For a team that started this project three years ago, it’s very impressive.”
The rookie had initially expressed concerns over the reliability of the F1 2026 cars, but those doubts were “cleared very quickly” during pre-season testing. Red Bull completed 672 laps across six official days in Bahrain, the third-fewest behind Cadillac (568) and Aston Martin (334), while world champions McLaren led the tally with 817 laps.
Hadjar added: “Of course, I still expect us to have issues during the season. It’s normal, but a lot less than what I thought.”
The early confidence in the Red Bull-Ford power unit gives Hadjar and the team a positive platform as they head into the first race of the season in Melbourne.