Red Bull engine chief sees more power-unit potential for 2027

Red Bull's 2027 power-unit programme will involve more than fine-tuning, engine department chief Ben Hodgkinson told The Race. He says the changing balance between the combustion engine and battery means the team will have to work on the combustion system again.

The planned changes will draw on what Red Bull has learned about extracting more from that system, Hodgkinson says. Any resulting gains could benefit Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar.

Red Bull cannot introduce power-unit updates under ADUO because its unit is designated a benchmark. Hodgkinson still expects calibration to yield gains in 2026.

Hodgkinson says the engine still has room relative to the theoretical maximum seen on the test bench. Calibration is not the only route: hardware changes could make the unit easier to manage. He calls the combustion system a “little diva” and hopes the work will bring a step forward in performance.