Christian Horner comments on Red Bull - Ford's victory in Malaysia.
Max Verstappen secured the inaugural victory for Red Bull in the 2026 Formula 1 season at the Bahrain Grand Prix, raising his win count to an astonishing 72. While it marked a glorious return to the top step of the podium for the Dutch racer, it was a significant moment for the team's collaboration with Ford. Christian Horner, the individual who initiated this new chapter, has now shared his thoughts on the win.
Horner, who recently stirred up trouble at Ferrari by expressing interest in a team principal position there, shared a photo on his Instagram stories. The image features a bare Red Bull Ford Powertrains engine positioned on a dyno rig, with its cylinder heads gleaming and red anodized intake covers, a striking visual.
"From a hole in the ground to race winner in five years. Huge congratulations to Red Bull Ford Powertrains, Max, and the entire team. An incredible achievement!"
Red Bull Powertrains was established in 2021 following Honda's exit from F1. This left Red Bull with two choices: either seek a power unit from another manufacturer like Mercedes or Ferrari or develop their own from the ground up. Horner opted for the latter, and this season, after just 16 races, the engine alliance with Ford bore fruit with its first victory.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
The four-time champion had already notched up seven podium finishes prior to the Malaysia weekend, but securing a win is an entirely different achievement, especially since the Blue Oval hasn't celebrated victory since 2003. This lengthy 23-year wait has been challenging for the American brand, but it could hardly have wished for a more fitting race or driver to end it.
Martin Brundle, speaking on Sky Sports F1, expressed his admiration for the team's success.
"Christian Horner assembled an excellent team to launch the Red Bull Powertrains project," the former driver-turned-commentator remarked. "That's a remarkably impressive victory for the team - both power unit and chassis - from Milton Keynes."
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