Red Bull RB22: Blue livery returns for Max Verstappen to drive in 2026 F1 season revealed at Detroit launch | F1 News

Red Bull has revealed the returning blue livery for the 2026 Formula 1 season as the team ushered in a new era at its unveiling in Detroit.

Red Bull and junior team Racing Bulls became the first teams to unveil their 2026 looks as they celebrated their new engine era at partner Ford headquarters in Detroit on Thursday night.

For the first time since joining the Formula 1 grid in 2005, Red Bull is producing its own engine – in collaboration with US car giant Ford – to coincide with the introduction of new powertrain and chassis regulations.

Max Verstappen was in attendance as he prepared to try to regain the drivers’ title after his streak of four consecutive world championships was ended last year by McLaren’s Lando Norris.

Verstappen has another new team-mate, with French 21-year-old Isaac Hajar promoted after a hugely impressive rookie campaign with Racing Bulls.

Red Bull said the RB22 livery marks “a return to the brilliance first seen when the team debuted in 2005”.

The team’s statement continued: “Formula 1 is about to enter a new era as the sport’s technical regulations undergo a seismic shift. This is also a defining moment for Oracle Red Bull Racing, as the opening round of the season in Melbourne will mark the official racing debut of Red Bull Ford Powertrains, as the team now builds both the car’s roof and powertrain for the first time.

“To confirm this bold move, the RB22 will wear a livery inspired by Red Bull’s original F1 look. It pulls away from the more classic Red Bull Racing presence, sharpens reflections, boosts contrast under lights and makes the heritage elements of the new livery feel richer and more premium at speed.”

Mekies: We will be left behind

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mackis embarks on his first full campaign in charge of the team after replacing Christian Horner last July.

The Frenchman admits he does not expect the team to start the season in contention for wins as he adapts to the challenges of producing his own engine.

Speaking ahead of the launch, he said Ski Sports News: “We know it will come with some difficulties. We know we will have a lot of sleepless nights and a few headaches, but please bear with us for the first few months.”

“Nobody underestimates the size of the mountain we have to climb. It’s the kind of challenge we all want to be associated with, and hopefully we’ll eventually get to the top.”

“I think it would be naive to say the least to think that we’ve done everything from scratch – with a lot of support from Ford – and then we turn up at the first race and we’re on the same level as people who have been doing it for many years.”

“It won’t be like that. We will follow them, we will be in a season with an incredibly high rate of development, both on the chassis side and on the engine side.

“We believe in our people, and therefore in the fact that we have put together what we believe is an extremely strong team with extremely strong partners.”

Red Bull struggled to compete with constructors’ champion McLaren during the 2025 season, but produced a remarkably strong finish as Verstappen won six of the last nine grands prix to finish the season just two points behind Norris.

“You saw last year in the season that, being the last year of the regulation cycle, you could still see how much the team could do through the season in terms of development,” he said.

“So take that for 2026 multiplied by three or four in terms of the rate of development, certainly for us in terms of how much we have to learn. So we’re taking it one step at a time, but with the right level of aggressiveness.”

A new era for Red Bull

Not only is Red Bull building its own engine, but it is starting the season without Horner or Dr Helmut Mark for the first time since they joined the grid in 2005.

Horner was sacked as team director and chief executive in July due to a slump in form and, more importantly, unrest derailing the battle for control of the Milton Keynes outfit.

Horner’s exit initially looked like a good sign for Red Bull’s long-time motorsport adviser Mark, but the Austrian has also been shown the exit door at the end of the 2025 season.

Mekies appeared to make an almost immediate impact both on and off the track, helping to oversee Verstappen’s surge back into title contention and also quieting some of the buzz around the team taking a slightly less confrontational approach than his predecessor.

Although legendary designer Adrian Newey’s departure from Red Bull was confirmed back in May 2024, this will also be the first car to be produced without his involvement.

Given the huge amount of unknowns in the new season, it would be a great achievement for Red Bull to be close to the title battle.

The problem facing the team should they be unable to compete at the sharp end is Verstappen, and whether he can ensure that the good times are soon back and waiting.

When is F1 pre-season testing?

The introduction of the new regulations means there is a tight schedule of three separate tests before the start of the 2026 season.

The first is a behind-closed-doors event in Barcelona from 26-30 January, before two tests in Bahrain from 11-13 and 18-20 February.

When is the first F1 race?

The teams then have two weeks to prepare for the first round of the season, which is the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 6-8.

The first practice session of the season will take place on Friday 6 March, with qualifying on Saturday 7 March and the opening race on Sunday 8 March.

Watch all 24 race weekends of the 2026 Formula 1 season live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Ski Sports from NOW – No contract, cancel anytime