Red Bull Ford Powertrains’ first Formula 1 podium was hailed as a major milestone for the Austrian team’s engine project. Yet, despite this encouraging performance in Canada, team officials remain clear-eyed about the path still to be covered to compete with Mercedes and Ferrari.
Read more Red Bull already condemned in Monaco? Verstappen would have only one hope
At the Canadian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen gave Red Bull Ford Powertrains its first podium as a power unit manufacturer. The four-time world champion finished third in Montreal, just over eleven seconds behind winner Kimi Antonelli and only a few tenths behind Lewis Hamilton.
A symbolic result for an engine program launched only a few years ago and developed entirely in Milton Keynes.
“Formula 1 is all about winning, but this first podium finish with our own power unit truly deserves to be celebrated, given the scale of what has been achieved in such a short time,” explained Ben Hodgkinson, Technical Director of Red Bull Ford Powertrains.
The Briton also highlighted the magnitude of the challenge met by his team.
“Red Bull Ford Powertrains is a newcomer facing some of the biggest names in the automotive and motorsport industry. Fighting with them at the forefront is something the whole team can be proud of.”
A complicated start to the season
This performance marks significant progress after a difficult start to the campaign. Reliability issues encountered in Australia and then in China cost the team valuable points.
Furthermore, the RB22 remains a demanding car to drive, both for Verstappen and for his teammate Isack Hadjar. After five rounds, Red Bull only occupies fourth place in the constructors’ championship with 57 points, far behind the 219 units already collected by Mercedes.
Nevertheless, the performance of the Red Bull Ford engine surprised several observers. From winter testing, the potential displayed seemed promising for a manufacturer new to these regulations.
Read more Mercedes F1 sets the frantic pace of development for the single-seaters
Mercedes remains the benchmark
The arrival of the ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities) program should allow engine manufacturers to continue developing their power units throughout the season.
However, Red Bull might not benefit from a major advantage in this context, as the current performance of its engine is already considered solid. Conversely, Ferrari, Audi, and Honda could benefit more from this measure implemented by the FIA to avoid a domination comparable to that of Mercedes during the regulatory change of 2014.
Nevertheless, Hodgkinson refuses any excessive optimism.
“There is still a long way to go and we know that the gap to the leading teams is significant, but we are learning quickly, developing our skills and working in the right areas.”
A first victory still in sight
Despite this publicly acknowledged delay, Red Bull Ford remains convinced that it can continue its progress throughout the season.
“We look forward to the upcoming races as we continue our progress and aim for our first victory in this new era of Formula 1, where new teams and manufacturers have chosen to take on the challenge.”
While the first podium already constitutes an important step in the project’s history, the objective remains unchanged: to win a first victory with an engine entirely designed by Red Bull Ford. An ambition that still seems distant today, but which appears less and less unrealistic given the progress made since the start of the season.
Read more Ferrari breaks the bank: Charles Leclerc’s new contract is already setting the counters off