Red Bull Racing unveils 2026 car. Max: 'Big changes'

Published on 16 January 2026 by Niels Hendrix

Oracle Red Bull Racing has unveiled its 2026 car in Detroit, United States. During a livestream, the RB22 – featuring the first power unit from Red Bull Ford Powertrains – was revealed.

The livery is inspired by Red Bull's early years in Formula 1, featuring a glossy paint job, the iconic Red Bull logo with a white outline, and a new shade of blue.

Laurent Mekies, CEO and team principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing, said: “Seeing the new livery for the first time is one of those special moments, it starts to make you feel excited about the new season. We are going to look spectacular on track! This is a new and significant era for the sport as a whole and for us as a team. We wanted our livery to reflect this, while also giving a nod to Red Bull Racing’s beginnings. This livery is designed to celebrate the spirit of our early days. In the year that an Oracle Red Bull Racing car will run a Red Bull Ford Powertrains PU for the first time, it felt only right to reflect some of our history in our livery.”

Max Verstappen said: “I love the new livery, it looks really nice and think it is going to stand out on track this year. The gloss is cool, it is a more retro look, the colour is really bold and blue, I really like it. Seeing it in real life was special and I was really impressed and surprised by how much of a change it is. The whole look brings back a lot of great memories of back in the day when I was just starting out in F1 and everything was new. I’m excited to drive a car with a completely different look. I’m not sure the mechanics will be happy about the time it’ll take to keep this clean! But, it’s going to look really slick and will be nice for everyone to see out on track.”

Looking forward to the start of the season, Max added: “It is all still a bit unknown, of course. The changes are big, with the power unit and car. For us as drivers it will take time to adjust initially. That’s why it is very important to get our laps in during the testing days and that we can optimize everything as well as possible. The motivation is very high. Everyone is ready and very excited to start this new chapter and I am as well.”

Check out the new official Max Verstappen shop! Now available: the new 2026 Red Bull Racing teamwear! Subscribe now for 10% off your first order and a chance to win a €300 shop voucher: https://store.verstappen.com/en/x-8579