No repeat of 2014 in F1? Red Bull engine chief sees “bigger risk” on aero side in 2026

Ben Hodgkinson shares the FIA’s view that the internal combustion engine will make the biggest difference for the new power units, but unlike the governing body he believes aerodynamics can be the decisive factor in 2026

On the eve of Formula 1’s new era, the obvious question is where all teams and manufacturers stand, but also what the biggest performance differentiator will be this season.

FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis has shared the expectation that the internal combustion engine will largely determine the pecking order in 2026. Ben Hodgkinson, director of Red Bull Ford Powertrains, shares that view in part, but not entirely.

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That said, he does not expect a repeat of 2014. Back then, Hodgkinson’s former employer Mercedes was so far ahead with the power unit that its dominance was effectively locked in for years.

“I think the differences between the power units are going to be less than we've seen in 2014, because the power unit or the ICE in particular is very, very similar,” he explained. “Yes, it's got sustainable fuels and yes, we've lost the MGU-H and there's been a compression ratio limit. There's been lots of tweaks to the regulations that deliberately kind of reset combustion technology, but it's not a million miles away [from what we had].”

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In certain respects, the regulations have become even more accessible than before, which was also the intention for newcomers such as Audi.

“It's not like we're suddenly developing a different configuration,” Hodgkinson pointed out. “It's still a V6, and it's still fundamentally the same. All the lowering of things like compression ratio and boost limits have actually made the loads a bit less, so the stress the parts have to go through is a little easier.

“I think the power units could be similar. Maybe I'm saying that because technically we're newcomers as Red Bull Powertrains, although an awful lot of my staff have lots of F1 experience. Maybe I don't feel so much like a newcomer as perhaps we should do, and maybe that's why I'm saying that.

“It'll be interesting to see where all the other teams are, but I guess there's a bigger risk on the aero side.”