Red Bull Unveils Glossy 2026 Livery for In-House Power Unit Debut

Red Bull Racing has unveiled the 2026 RB22, featuring a refreshed blue and black livery at a launch event in Detroit. This reveal marks a pivotal moment as the team introduces its first-ever in-house power unit, developed with Ford, signaling a new era after the end of its Honda collaboration.

Why it matters:

The shift to Red Bull Powertrains is the team's biggest technical challenge in 20 years. Moving from a customer supply to building its own engine—backed by Ford—is a massive gamble on self-sufficiency that could redefine the team's competitive standing in the new regulations era.

The details:

• Visual Update: The car returns to a glossy finish after years of matte, featuring a lighter blue "jacquard" pattern mixed with dark blue and black.
• Driver Lineup: Max Verstappen leads the team alongside new teammate Isack Hadjar.
• The Reveal: In characteristic Red Bull fashion, pilot Martin Sonka tore the cover off the show car using a stunt plane.

Between the lines:

Building an engine from scratch is a massive undertaking. Red Bull Powertrains chief Ben Hodgkinson noted the "blank sheet of paper" approach required scaling to 700 staff quickly. This bold strategy aims to foster an innovation culture necessary to master the complex 2026 regulations.

What's next:

With the launch complete, attention turns to pre-season testing to see if Red Bull's investment in powertrain technology can translate into on-track performance against established manufacturers like Mercedes and Ferrari.