Red Bull Names First F1 Power Unit in Tribute to Mateschitz

Red Bull Racing has revealed that its first in-house Formula 1 power unit will carry a deeply symbolic name, honouring the late team founder Dietrich Mateschitz as the organisation enters a new technical era from 2026.

Team principal Laurent Mekies confirmed that the inaugural engine produced by Red Bull Powertrains will be designated DM01, a direct tribute to Mateschitz, whose vision laid the foundations for Red Bull’s transformation into a Formula 1 powerhouse.

Mateschitz, who passed away in October 2022, acquired the Jaguar team in 2004 and rebranded it as Red Bull Racing. Under his ownership, the team captured six drivers’ world championships and four constructors’ titles. His death came just one day before Red Bull sealed the 2022 drivers’ championship at the United States Grand Prix, adding further emotional weight to the tribute.

The origins of Red Bull’s power unit project date back to 2021, when Red Bull Powertrains was established to manage the team’s engine programme following Honda’s decision to step back from Formula 1. That initiative evolved further in 2023 with the announcement of a technical partnership with Ford, paving the way for Red Bull to manufacture its own power units for the first time under the 2026 regulations.

The DM01 power unit will supply both Red Bull Racing and sister team Racing Bulls, representing the first instance of full technical independence across chassis and engine within the Red Bull Formula 1 structure.

Mekies explained that the decision to name the engine after Mateschitz reflects more than sentiment, encapsulating the philosophy that continues to guide the project.

“This very first engine is called ‘DM01’ in tribute to Mr Mateschitz,” Mekies said.
“It is his vision, his boldness — he released the Red Bull spirit that is the reason we are all here today.”

According to Mekies, Mateschitz’s willingness to commit to full independence remains one of the defining moments in the team’s history.

“He made that unbelievable decision at the time to put us on the route of being completely independent, with both the chassis and the power unit,” he added.
“He was not scared by the scale of the challenge.”

For Red Bull, the launch of DM01 is not only a technical milestone but also a statement of continuity between past and future, linking the founder’s ambition to the most complex project the team has undertaken in its two decades in Formula 1.

“Today, we have our opportunity to pay tribute to him,” Mekies concluded.
“And hopefully, to make him proud.”

As Formula 1 approaches its most significant regulatory overhaul in decades, the naming of the DM01 underscores Red Bull’s intent to compete as a fully independent manufacturer. More than a power unit, the DM01 stands as a symbol of the legacy left by Mateschitz and the bold path he set Red Bull Racing on—one that now reaches its most ambitious expression with an engine built entirely in-house.