LONDON: Powertrains boss Ben Hodgkinson would rather talk about belief than expectation after Red Bull's momentous first win as a Formula One engine manufacturer.
Max Verstappen's victory from pole, with fastest lap, at last weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia came 16 races into F1's new rules era and exceeded expectations for those who doubted the energy drink brand could match established powers Mercedes and Ferrari by building from scratch one of the most complex power units in the history of the sport.
Sepang was also the first pole of 2026 by a car not powered by a Mercedes engine but Hodgkinson remained wary of too much hype when asked about expectations.
"We've won a race. One out of 16," the technical director told Reuters ahead of this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix and four-time champion Verstappen's 250th start.
