Red Bull's new power unit has impressed in the opening races of the 2026 Formula 1 season despite challenges with the chassis. Ford Performance director Mark Rushbrook described the unit as being 'in the mix' as a newcomer.
The Red Bull Ford DM01 power unit performed strongly from the Melbourne season opener onward. Team insiders and drivers noted it avoided major issues during early races, including the Japanese Grand Prix where Max Verstappen stated that neither the combustion engine nor electrical deployment ranked among the team's biggest problems.
