Max Verstappen finished on the podium for the first time in 2026 during the recent Canadian GP. He was somewhat helped by George Russell’s retirement, but nonetheless, a third place is an encouraging result for Red Bull. The Austrian team was not always competitive in the opening races, partly due to the brand-new power unit developed by the team itself. Engine boss Ben Hodgkinson is therefore proud of the progress made.
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In a press release ahead of the Monaco GP, Hodgkinson first looked back at the podium in Montreal. “In Formula 1, it’s all about winning, but this first podium, made possible by our own engine, is absolutely something to celebrate,” he said proudly. “It underlines what we have achieved in such a short time. Red Bull Ford Powertrains is a newcomer competing against some of the biggest names in the automotive and motorsport industry. That we can already compete there is something the whole team can be proud of.”
Gap
Still, Red Bull acknowledges a gap to Mercedes, which remains unbeaten in 2026. Ferrari and McLaren also look stronger; the Scuderia is expected to be the favorite on the tight street circuit of Monaco next weekend. “There is still a long way to go and we know the gap to the leaders is significant,” Hodgkinson admitted. “But we are learning fast, building our capabilities, and working on improvements in the right areas. We look forward to the upcoming races, where we want to continue this progress,” the Brit concluded. “We continue to aim for our first victory in this new F1 era.”
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Given the current championship standings, Red Bull should actually be considered midfield. After five wins, Mercedes is of course leading with 219 points, followed by Ferrari and McLaren, with 147 and 106 points respectively. Then comes Red Bull, which with 57 points is closer to Alpine and Racing Bulls than to the leaders. However, the season is still young; the Monaco GP is only the sixth round of the championship.
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