Max Verstappen visited Red Bull’s Powertrains facility in Milton Keynes on Thursday, celebrating the team’s victory at the Italian Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen Visits Red Bull Powertrains in Milton Keynes
Following his impressive win at Monza, marking his return to the podium since the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, the four-time F1 World Champion made a stop at Red Bull’s Technology Campus. He joined the entire staff to commemorate this victory.
After the celebration, where he took selfies with team principal Laurent Mekies and the team staff, Verstappen ventured over to the Red Bull Powertrains facility to get an update on the development of the power unit that will power his RB22 next season.
This facility is on the brink of rolling out its first autonomous F1 power unit, as Red Bull’s long-term collaboration with Honda will conclude at the end of the current season.
Accompanied by Mekies, technical director Ben Hodgkinson, and advisor Helmut Marko, Verstappen toured the facility and received an update on the project’s advancements. The team shared on social media, “Max joined the Milton Keynes team on Thursday, celebrating the victory and touring Red Bull Ford Powertrains as we prepare for next season’s regulatory changes.”
Looking Ahead to F1 2026
As Red Bull transitions to being an independent manufacturer for the first time, similar to Ferrari and Mercedes, Mekies acknowledged the significant challenge ahead, referring to Mercedes’ boss Toto Wolff’s remarks about Red Bull facing an “Everest to climb.” He emphasized the ambitious yet daunting task of developing their power unit.
Mekies noted, “We’re setting up at the highest possible level and taking it step by step, anticipating a demanding year ahead. We recognize the hard work required, but it’s a challenge that embodies the spirit of Red Bull.” He underscored that while they shouldn’t expect to match teams like Ferrari and Mercedes immediately, they are dedicated to the task.
The collaboration between Red Bull Powertrains and Ford is progressing well, with Ford Racing Global Director Mark Rushbrook expressing satisfaction over the natural evolution of their partnership. He highlighted the integrated nature of their teams and the focused development efforts for the upcoming seasons.
