Red Bull and Racing Bulls 2026 Car Launch: Celebrating Ford with livery reveals
- DIVEBOMB Motorsport
- 1 hour ago
- 4 min read
Written by Chloe Buckley and Peter Johnson
Red Bull and Racing Bulls launched their 2026 season in Detroit, Michigan last night. Both teams revealed their 2026 liveries whilst paying homage to their Ford partnership as they celebrated the new hybrid power unit created by Red Bull Ford Powertrains.
Red Bull and Racing Bulls became the first teams to launch their new liveries ahead of the 2026 Formula One season at an event in Detroit.
Both outfits stopped short of revealing their actual car for the new season, choosing to keep their cards close to their chests as Formula One enters a brand new era.
Red Bull, who finished third in last year’s Constructors’ Championship, retained their traditional blue, red and yellow colour scheme, but departed from the matte finish that has adorned the car since 2016.
The team has instead reverted to a shiny livery, made iconic during Sebastian Vettel’s championship-winning days at the start of the last decade.
Speaking at the launch event, Max Verstappen was certainly a fan of the new look: “I think it’s much better! I’ve been asking for this for a while - I like the shine, I like the blue, it’s my favourite colour.
“It’s much more fresh, I like it.”
In another visible change, the car displayed the number 3 - not for the first time, given Daniel Ricciardo’s history with the number - but notable for the fact that Verstappen will now sport it, having handed over the number 1 to Lando Norris.
Red Bull dominated the first three-quarters of the previous regulation cycle which began in 2022, as the now-departed Adrian Newey cracked the highly complex ground effect rules to deliver a car capable of three drivers’ titles and two teams’ championships.
The six-time constructors’ champions were eventually passed and caught by McLaren, though, with Norris ending Verstappen’s four-year reign as drivers’ champion by the narrowest of margins last year.
A team of Red Bull’s stature will surely never be satisfied with anything other than top spot, and with the Dutchman’s long-term future still uncertain given the presence of a performance-related clause in his contract, it is crucial for the team that its new engine partnership with Ford hits the ground running.
If rumours over the winter are to be believed, then the Red Bull Ford and Mercedes can be expected to have an early advantage over their competitors, which bodes well for Verstappen in his pursuit of a fifth drivers’ title.
Asked whether he expects the new engine to be competitive, the four-time champion said: “Time will tell, we don't know. The only thing I do know is that everyone is giving it everything they have.
“We are trying to push ahead, we are really trying to maximise everything, but it’s not going to be easy.”
Following Red Bull’s livery reveal, RB took to the stage to show off their 2026 look.
This year, RB will be fielding a new driver lineup with Lawson remaining at the team and Lindblad making his F1 debut.
Before the car was revealed, a trendy relaunch video played in true RB fashion. The video highlighted the team’s new kit which was revealed earlier in the week. It also showcased RB’s goals to champion creativity and culture through its fans, creators and the team itself.
The VCARB 03 livery was revealed by Lawson and Lindblad to show a similar all-white look to the VCARB 02, with more blue accents to represent the partnership with Ford Racing.
This season will debut the Red Bull Ford Powertrains power units that will be used by both Red Bull and RB. Ford has a rich history in motorsport which was celebrated at last night’s event.
The manufacturer had one of the most successful engines in F1 history with the Ford-Cosworth DFV. In 2026, they will return after years of conversation about changing regulations to provide both Red Bull teams with a new hybrid power unit.
CEO Peter Bayer spoke about the significance of having the liveries revealed in Detroit, both for the Ford partnership and for the community they have built with the team. He said: “This launch captures the evolution of Visa Cash App Racing Bulls as a brand and as a racing team.
“From having Detroit as a backdrop representing our partnership with Ford, to the creators, fans and communities we’ve brought into this launch, everything reflects our ambition to stand for being a culture-first team.”
He added: “We want to connect with the next generation in a way that feels authentic, bold and inclusive, and this moment marks the continuation of what we do both on and off the track.”
Last year, RB achieved a podium finish with Isack Hadjar in Zandvoort, as well as multiple top 10 finishes with their reliable VCARB 02. This year, RB should be shooting for even more success. With the regulation changes and brand-new power unit looking to impress, more podiums and potential race wins should be on RB’s radar.
It feels as though the team are building towards something bigger. Their results improved massively in 2025 compared to previous years. They enter the new year on an upward trajectory and have momentum going into the new era of regulations and the next generation of the sport.
Both teams will prepare for their respective 2026 campaigns with pre-season testing in Bahrain. The first sessions will take place 11th-13th February at the Bahrain International Circuit, with the final sessions taking place from 18th-20th at the same location.
The 2026 season will get underway in Australia from the 6th-8th March, where Red Bull and RB will be looking to start the F1 year off strong.
