Laurent Mekies says Red Bull Ford powertrain era fulfils Dietrich Mateschitz's “dream”

Red Bull’s 2026 livery launch in Detroit carried a tribute to the late Dietrich Mateschitz, with Laurent Mekies saying the team is now living out the founder’s “dream”

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies presented the team's 2026 livery in Detroit, drawing considerable praise from fans of Formula 1. But with the outfit's new powertrain being backed by Ford Racing, he used this moment to send a tribute to the late founder Dietrich Mateschitz, whose "dream" for the team has now been fulfilled.

Both Red Bull and sister squad Racing Bulls opened the 2026 launch season with a joint event at Michigan Central Station, home of the teams' power unit partner. Coinciding with the largest regulation overhaul the series has seen in years, the Milton Keynes outfit will race for the first time with a power unit built in-house.

While this is a huge undertaking for the team, it was only inevitable, as Red Bull sought to fulfil the dream of its late founder.

“2026 marks the start of a new and significant era for Formula One and for Red Bull," Mekies said. "We wanted our livery to reflect this, while also giving a nod to Red Bull Racing's beginnings.

"We are in F1 because of the dream of one man, Dietrich Mateschitz, and several years later, he had another dream, to create an engine. This livery is designed to celebrate that spirit that we entered the sport with.

"In the year that an Oracle Red Bull Racing car carries a Red Bull Ford Powertrains PU for the first time, it felt only right to reflect some of our history in our livery.”

Red Bull is entering an engine race that, while reset for this year, has been led by established manufacturers for years. To be in a position to confidently run its engine for testing in Barcelona later this month is incredibly impressive.

"The team have done an incredible job, to be here today and to be in the position to go to Barcelona shakedown with our own car and our own power unit for the first time ever," the Frenchman added. "This is the result of the efforts of 2,000 people at the Red Bull Technology Campus, the most talented group that you can find and they've been working together to get us to this moment.

Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Racing Team Principal, Jim Farley, Ford CEO

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

"It's the beginning of an extremely exciting journey for all of us and we'll take to the track as one - one Red Bull chassis and power unit.”

Ben Hodgkinson, Red Bull Powertrains technical director, outlined the need for the change: “It's a bold and audacious project. This is about being masters of our own destiny. From the very beginning, we wanted it to be a Red Bull chassis and power unit, developed together in harmony.”

Never turning down a risk, Oliver Mintzlaff, CEO of corporate projects and new investments of Red Bull GmbH, confirmed that this move is simply a continuation of what the team originally stood for.

“This is a new chapter for us. Building our own engine and bringing it to life on track is a remarkable step for our brand. We're optimistic and truly excited to go live with our car and our power unit. There will be significant regulatory changes in 2026.

"Yes, the power unit is a major part of that, but there are many other elements as well. We took a similar risk when we entered Formula One back in 2005, and that mindset hasn't changed.”