Despite almost half the 2025 Formula One season remaining, the paddock focus is well an truly on the looming huge regulation changes coming next year. The new rules cover aerodynamics, power units and almost all aspects of the car are forcing the engineers into blue sky thinking which should reveal a wide variety of solutions when the cars hit the track in January’s first pre-season test.
McLaren have become the benchmark this season, comfortably leading both championships, their huge lead allowing them to switch their resources to 2026, while their rivals are still tinkering with this year’s challenger.
Mercedes are persistently reported as having the strongest power unit to date as the constant movement of staff between teams allows glimpses into how each team’s projects are progressing. The FIA too is receiving ever increasing feedback from the teams as their drivers are stepping up their simulator work week by week.
FIA in feedback loop over each new power unit
The constant feedback is aiding the FIA in how the new features on the power train should be regulated for including a variety of energy management modes, push to pass and the moveable aerodynamics. Ferrari are still testing mechanical upgrades to their SF-25 in areas where their engineers believe there will be some ‘cary over’ into 2026, the latest being the suspension layout.
Aston Martin/Honda have revealed less about their progress than some of the other teams, although Adrian Newey rang the alarm bells earlier this year. “I think it is fair to say that some of our tools are weak, particularly the driver in the loop simulator.
“It needs a lot of work because it’s not correlating at all at the moment, which is a fundamental research tool. Not having that is a limitation. But we’ve just got to work around it in the meantime and then sort out a plan to get it to where it needs to be. But that’s probably a two-year project in truth.”
Honda admit ‘last minute.com’
Honda too have parted the curtain on their journey towards F1’s new era when Tetushi Kakuda of Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), shed light on why the manufacturer is embracing a tight timeline and what it means for their partnership with Team Silverstone.“We are aiming to submit the homologation in February next year – since we had a slightly late start, we want to push forward until the very last moment,” he told Motorsport.com.
This too will be of concern to Aston Martin who become the sole team running Honda power in 2026. It’s more normative for manufacturers to finalise their new power unit designs well in advance of the homologation deadline, to facilitate extensive reliability testing.
Last time out Honda were late to the party, bringing their all new V6 hybrid to McLaren in 2015. The papaya liveried car had been designed as “size zero” and the Japanese engineers struggled with their packaging. In early testing issues came to light such as overheating, oil system overflow, and frequent mechanical failures — including catastrophic breaks of turbo or MGU-H components.
Horner’s return as F1 team boss?
Insider says RBR powertrain “looks bad”
This raises questions over how well Red Bull will adapt to the new engine formula, with no previous manufacturing experience in building powertrains. With just two wins this season, Red Bull are under increasing scrutiny over their longer term competitiveness and whilst Max Verstappen has committed to another year, a lot of uncertainty surrounds the future of Yuki Tsunoda.
According to Spanish outlet ‘Grada3’, pessimism is building within Red Bull Powertrains, which is developing its first in-house F1 engine in partnership with Ford. Alongside Audi, Red Bull is one of two teams constructing a completely new power unit for 2026.
The report claims that while Red Bull is not behind schedule, personnel inside the programme have admitted privately that “it looks bad.” Officially, no development targets are being missed, but confidence in the engine’s competitiveness appears shaky.
Cadillac to provide a “pathway” for American drivers
Ford extend their involvement at Red Bull
Ford recently revealed their initial goals when partnering with the Milton Keynes team were restricted to the electrical side of the powertrain, but as time went by their expertise was sought on all aspects of there new F1 engines.
That uncertainty is especially troubling given Verstappen’s expectations. Sources suggest he would “explode” if beaten consistently by drivers he doesn’t believe are at his level. A weak engine could leave him powerless to fight.
The comparison with Honda is stark: it took the Japanese marque five years to win its first race after returning as an engine supplier in 2015. Red Bull, however, cannot afford such a long learning curve. “Bad omens” are already being whispered in the paddock about their 2026 prospects.
Max Verstappen’s deal includes ‘get-out clauses’ tied to performance. Reports suggest that if he is outside the top three in the championship by the summer break in 2026, he could walk away the following season.
Who’s with who for 2026
That possibility has naturally sparked speculation about where he might land. Mercedes has long been linked with Verstappen and could reignite its interest depending on the futures of George Russell and rising star Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Aston Martin could also be an option too, with Fernando Alonso’s contract due to expire. Meanwhile, Ferrari’s plans hinge on whether Hamilton extends his deal into 2027.
Engine Supplier Line-Up for 2026
Red Bull – Red Bull Powertrains (with Ford)
Racing Bulls – Red Bull Powertrains (with Ford)
Ferrari – Ferrari
McLaren – Mercedes
Mercedes – Mercedes
Williams – Mercedes
Aston Martin – Honda
Haas – Ferrari
Alpine – Mercedes
Audi – Audi
Cadillac – Ferrari
Verstappen playing ‘wait and see’
With Christian Horner who pioneered the Red Bull new powertrains projects now gone, Laurent Mekies has been forced to take the reigns of both the racing team and the power unit development division. He and technical chief Pierre Wache face the dual challenge of delivering a competitive chassis and ensuring their new power unit partnership with Ford doesn’t leave them vulnerable.
For now, Verstappen remains loyal, although to be honest the smart move for the world champion was to remain with the Milan Keynes squad for next season. Had he signed with Mercedes for 2026 and Honda proved the better option, he may have had difficulty getting out of a contract with Brackley for 2027.
However the pressure is mounting and Red Bull now with Ford’s full involvement are up against time to make their power unit good enough for Verstappen to race at the front.
Ferrri chase McLaren with “risky” suspension redesign
Ferrari’s rear suspension gamble to define the season – Fred Vasseur made the first big misstep of his career at the head of the Ferrari F1 racing team when he was persuaded by his engineers that their 2026 challenger should be designed from the ground up. At the Maranello festive bash where the Ferrari grandees and media mingled, Fred announced boldly: “We are in the fourth year of applying these regulations and we know our previous project very well. That is why the 2025 car will be completely new.”
As if to underscore his point, Vasseur added that the 2025 Ferrari “will share less than 1 percent” with the red single seater that was raced by Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc in 2024. At the time TJ13 challenged Vasseur’s thinking given the SF-24 was the class of the field over the closing six race weekends.
Prior to the two triple head weekends which concluded the 2024 competition, Ferrari sat 79 points behind McLaren who were leading the constructors’ championship. Come the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi, the gap had been slashed to just 14 points. Ferrari were on a roll and their trajectory would have seen them claim their first championship had there been one more race weekend to come…. READ MORE
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
