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Ahead of the race weekend at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, the paddock focused heavily on how the 2026 power units would handle the circuit’s extreme altitude of 2,286 metres. Several manufacturers feared severe turbo lag due to lower air density and fewer oxygen molecules per cubic metre, forcing turbos to work harder to maintain performance.
Power Unit Performance at Altitude
Honda chief engineer Shintaro Orihara explained before the weekend that insufficient turbo boost at altitude would negatively impact the internal combustion engine’s outright power. For Red Bull Ford Powertrains, competing as a newcomer under Formula 1’s new regulations, this high-altitude race served as a major test.
According to team principal Laurent Mekies, speaking to Motorsport.com, the team passed the power unit and chassis cooling challenges successfully. Mekies noted that while Mexico presented a unique, one-off challenge, the team ultimately found itself in the right competitive mix.
Verstappen Flags Inconsistent Engine Braking
Despite the successful weekend, Max Verstappen highlighted ongoing issues with the DM01, Red Bull’s first in-house built power unit, particularly regarding engine braking. After experiencing an inconsistent feeling behind the wheel in Austin, the four-time world champion raised similar complaints over the team radio in Mexico.
Verstappen explained in the post-race press conference that the engine braking happens randomly and behaves unpredictably on its own. He joked that he might need a conversation with the engine before a race to make it behave better, adding that the intense heat on components like the turbocharger makes precision difficult.
Progress on Race Starts
On a more positive note, Red Bull delivered surprisingly strong starts in Mexico despite concerns from Verstappen and Isack Hadjar following qualifying. Mekies told Motorsport.com that this success reflects steady progress from ongoing development work in Milton Keynes, even though more hardware changes are necessary for next season.
Mekies emphasized that Red Bull is still not the benchmark for starts and does not expect perfection in every upcoming race. However, he confirmed that the team will continue pushing to improve performance with its current equipment.
