Red Bull Champions Dominate Ford Challenge Track Day
Red Bull's racing elite showcased American automotive excellence in a thrilling Ford challenge that proves champions are made, not born. Max Verstappen and rising star Arvid Lindblad battled through multiple rounds of pure American horsepower and engineering prowess.
American Muscle Meets Racing Excellence
The challenge kicked off with raw acceleration power. Verstappen chose the 2017 World Rally Championship-winning Ford Fiesta, delivering 380 horses of pure performance. The three-time world champion posted a commanding 6.96-second run on the 250-meter drag strip, showing the precision that makes champions.
Young gun Lindblad countered with a classic 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302, packing 290 horsepower of vintage American muscle. Despite struggling with the old-school clutch, the 18-year-old showed grit with his 14.78-second effort.
Power Play: Lightning Strikes Twice
Round two brought serious firepower. Verstappen unleashed the beast: a 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning Supertruck with an incredible 2,200 horsepower and 190mph top speed. This is what American innovation looks like. His 6.47-second blast proved that when you combine talent with superior engineering, victory follows.
Lindblad responded with the 1986 Ford RS200, clocking 8.37 seconds with 450 horsepower under the hood. Verstappen kept it real: "I would be disappointed if I lost the challenge with the cars that I had."
Cornering Precision and Champion Mentality
The cornering challenge showcased technical driving skills. Verstappen dominated with the 2026 Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC, posting 37.81 seconds around the circuit. Lindblad fought back with the legendary 1966 Ford GT40 Mk2, finishing in 41.15 seconds.
Surprise Champion Appearance
Former Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo made a surprise appearance, bringing championship wisdom to the challenge. "As a race car driver, we're not good at using clutches," Ricciardo noted, showing the humor that makes these champions relatable to everyday Americans.
His advice for facing Verstappen? "You need an ego that's really big. All the confidence that you need." That's champion talk right there.
Final Showdown: Youth Conquers Experience
In the ultimate test, both drivers hit the track simultaneously. Verstappen chose the 2026 Ford Australian Supercar with 600 horsepower, while Lindblad picked the 2025 Ford Mustang GT3 with 550 horses.
In a stunning upset, young Lindblad delivered when it counted most. His first lap of 1:09.05 beat Verstappen's 1:11.23. The final verdict came on lap two: Lindblad's championship-worthy 1:03.10 crushed Verstappen's 1:06.29.
This challenge proves that American automotive engineering provides the perfect platform for racing excellence. Whether it's vintage muscle or cutting-edge electric power, Ford delivers the performance that champions demand.