Hexagon Enables Red Bull Ford Powertrains to Deliver First In-House Formula 1 Hybrid Engine for 2026 Season

Hexagon Enables Red Bull Ford Powertrains to Deliver First In-House Formula 1 Hybrid Engine for 2026 Season

(IN BRIEF) Hexagon has been instrumental in the development of Red Bull Ford Powertrains’ first in-house 1.6-litre V6 turbo hybrid Formula 1 power unit, providing ultra-precise metrology, digital inspection and trackside measurement capabilities that have enabled Oracle Red Bull Racing and Red Bull Ford Powertrains to meet the demanding new 2026 regulations for lighter, more agile and more electrified cars. Acting as the team’s exclusive metrology partner, Hexagon has supported the entire vehicle — chassis and engine — through high-accuracy CMMs, 3D laser scanners and advanced software such as QUINDOS and Q-DAS, ensuring sub-micron tolerances, rapid prototyping, real-time refinements and first-time-right manufacturing across tens of thousands of design changes per season. This integrated approach has strengthened quality, reduced faults, supported compliance with the new engine cost cap, and positioned the RB22 and the new DM-01 powertrain to compete at the highest level as Formula 1 enters a new technical era.

(PRESS RELEASE) COBHAM, 11-Feb-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division has played a central role in the creation of the first-ever Red Bull Ford Powertrains Formula 1 power unit, providing ultra-precise measurement and digital quality tools that have underpinned the development, testing and production of the new engine and chassis ahead of the 2026 regulatory overhaul. As Formula 1 enters a new era defined by lighter, more agile cars and a greater emphasis on electrification, Hexagon’s metrology solutions have enabled Oracle Red Bull Racing and Red Bull Ford Powertrains to meet the demanding technical requirements of the revised rulebook while maintaining world-class performance standards.

Serving as the team’s exclusive metrology partner, Hexagon has embedded high-speed quality assurance across every stage of the vehicle’s development, covering both the chassis and the power unit. This end-to-end support has allowed Red Bull to refine components trackside, validate design changes in real time, and manage the approximately 30,000 iterative modifications that occur during a typical Formula 1 season.

To comply with the 2026 technical regulations, which mandate smaller, lighter cars with altered aerodynamics and a greater reliance on hybrid power, Red Bull Ford Powertrains developed an entirely new 1.6-litre V6 turbo hybrid engine from scratch at its Milton Keynes facility. Hexagon’s ultra-high accuracy coordinate measuring machines (CMMs), 3D laser scanners and advanced metrology software have been essential in achieving sub-micron tolerances across thousands of moving parts, ensuring the reliability and performance of the power unit under extreme racing conditions.

Hexagon’s Leitz PMM-C Precision CMMs have been deployed throughout Red Bull’s manufacturing and assembly areas, providing the accuracy, repeatability and flexibility required for high-performance engine production. Meanwhile, the Leica Absolute Scanner AS1, used with a portable measuring arm, has enabled detailed scanning of critical external components such as crankcases and Energy Recovery System installations, supporting rigorous quality control and rapid design validation.

Data captured from these systems is processed using Hexagon’s QUINDOS software for complex geometry analysis, with further statistical evaluation conducted via Q-DAS where necessary. This integrated digital workflow allows Red Bull Ford Powertrains to monitor machining performance, detect deviations early and ensure components are manufactured correctly first time, reducing rework and supporting compliance with the new engine cost cap.

Beyond engine development, Hexagon’s technologies have also been embedded within Oracle Red Bull Racing’s chassis operations. Laser trackers and high-resolution 3D scanning tools are used to guarantee precise assembly, alignment and aerodynamic refinement throughout the racing season. This trackside capability is particularly critical given the continuous evolution of the RB22, the team’s 2026 car, which was unveiled in Detroit ahead of the season opener in Australia.

Over nearly two decades of collaboration, Hexagon’s solutions have helped Red Bull significantly reduce manufacturing faults and improve operational efficiency. Fast, reliable scanning and digital twin integration ensure that the car can be accurately rebuilt and optimised between races, maximising on-track performance while maintaining consistency across all design iterations.

Hexagon’s renewed branding on the RB22 reflects the deepening of this long-standing partnership as both organisations push the boundaries of precision engineering in Formula 1. With the new DM-01 power unit now ready for competition, Hexagon will continue to support Red Bull Ford Powertrains and Oracle Red Bull Racing in their pursuit of performance, reliability and technological leadership under the sport’s most transformative rule changes in decades.

About Hexagon:

Hexagon is the global leader in measurement technologies. We provide the confidence that vital industries rely on to build, navigate, and innovate. From microns to Mars, our solutions ensure productivity, quality, safety, and sustainability in everything from manufacturing and construction to mining and autonomous systems.

Hexagon (Nasdaq Stockholm: HEXA B) has approximately 24,800 employees in 50 countries and net sales of approximately 5.4bn EUR. Learn more at hexagon.com.

Media Contact:

Robin Wolstenholme
Global Media Relations and Analyst Relations Manager
Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence Business Area
media.mi@hexagon.com
+44(0)7407 642190

SOURCE: Hexagon