Red Bull Ford Powertrains Targets Singapore Success After First F1 Win in Malaysia

Singapore, October 8, 2026: Red Bull Ford Powertrains heads into the Singapore Grand Prix with renewed confidence after securing its first Formula 1 victory as a power unit manufacturer at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

The breakthrough victory marked a significant milestone for the Red Bull-Ford project, which entered Formula 1 as a power unit manufacturer in 2026. Just 16 races into its competitive journey, the programme has already delivered its first Grand Prix win.

For the team, however, the focus has quickly shifted towards Singapore, the final round of the current triple-header.

Red Bull Ford Powertrains Celebrates First F1 Victory

The Malaysia victory was described as an “incredible feeling” and a hugely proud moment for the organisation, representing the first win for Red Bull Ford Powertrains as an F1 power unit manufacturer.

The result was particularly significant given the length of the programme’s development. According to Ben Hodgkinson, Technical Director of Red Bull Ford Powertrains, the project was little more than an ambitious idea five years ago.

“Just sixteen races into our journey, the Team has achieved something extraordinary: our first race victory as a Formula 1 power unit manufacturer,” Hodgkinson said.

He described the achievement as a major milestone for the entire organisation and credited the combined efforts of Red Bull, its Milton Keynes operation and Ford.

The victory, he added, was not the result of a single decision or breakthrough, but the culmination of years of development and contributions from thousands of people across the programme.

Isack Hadjar Looks to Build on Malaysia Momentum

For Isack Hadjar, Malaysia produced a mixed result personally, but the French driver acknowledged the importance of the team’s victory.

Hadjar said that while Malaysia did not work out as he had hoped, the result represented a special moment for everyone involved.

The immediate switch to Singapore also gives the team an opportunity to reset. Hadjar believes the lessons from Malaysia, combined with the performance seen in Baku, could provide a strong foundation for the Singapore weekend.

“If we can take the performance from Baku and the learnings from Malaysia, we’re in for a positive weekend,” Hadjar said.

The Red Bull driver also highlighted his enthusiasm for the Singapore circuit, describing it as one of his favourite tracks on the calendar.

Singapore Presents a Very Different Challenge

While Malaysia provided the breakthrough, Red Bull Ford Powertrains expects Singapore to present a significantly different test.

The Marina Bay circuit is a demanding street track characterised by numerous corners, a bumpy surface and physically challenging conditions. The heat and humidity add another layer of difficulty, although the race being held at night helps reduce the impact of the tropical temperatures.

The technical demands of Singapore will also place considerable pressure on both the car and the power unit.

Hodgkinson acknowledged that the team cannot simply expect the performance from Malaysia to carry over to Singapore.

“Singapore is next and the track presents a very different challenge, with the heat, humidity and demands of a street circuit placing significant pressure on both the car and the power unit,” he said.

The team therefore expects to learn more about the competitiveness of its power unit and car package on a circuit with very different characteristics to Malaysia.

Red Bull Ford Powertrains Wants More Wins

Despite the significance of the first victory, Hodgkinson stressed that the milestone does not mean the development programme is complete.

The first win has instead provided an important validation that the Red Bull-Ford project is moving in the right direction.

“Winning this early does not mean the job is done. There is still a huge amount for us to learn and improve,” Hodgkinson said.

The team will now look to use the confidence generated by the Malaysia result while continuing to develop its power unit and overall package.

For Red Bull Ford Powertrains, Singapore therefore represents more than simply the final race of a demanding triple-header. It is the next opportunity to demonstrate that the Malaysia victory was not an isolated result and that the new power unit programme can continue to challenge at the front of Formula 1.

Singapore Remains Unfinished Business

The Singapore Grand Prix also carries personal significance for the Red Bull drivers.

The track is one that has yet to produce a victory for the team’s Malaysia race winner, who described Singapore as unfinished business. The driver also said he enjoys the street circuit’s character, despite its combination of bumps, numerous corners and extreme heat.

Hadjar, meanwhile, is relishing another night race and believes his experience of Singapore, combined with what the team learned in Malaysia, can help deliver another strong weekend.

With the first victory already secured, Red Bull Ford Powertrains arrives in Singapore with momentum, confidence and a clear objective: continue improving and turn its breakthrough success into the foundation for further Formula 1 victories.