Red Bull RB22: the retro blue livery that Max Verstappen will drive in the 2026 F1 season revealed at the launch event in Detroit | F1 News

Red Bull has revealed a retro blue livery for the 2026 Formula 1 season as the team ushers in a new era at its launch event in Detroit.

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

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

Max Verstappen was in attendance as he prepares to attempt to regain the drivers’ title, having seen his streak of four successive world championships ended by McLaren’s Lando Norris last year.

Verstappen has another new teammate, with Frenchman Isack Hadjar, 21, having been promoted after a hugely impressive rookie campaign with Racing Bulls.

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

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

“To recognize this bold move, the RB22 will wear a livery inspired by Red Bull’s original F1 look. It recalls a more classic Red Bull Racing presence, accentuating highlights, enhancing contrast under lights and making the heritage elements of the new livery richer and more premium at high speeds.”

Mekies: We’re going to be left behind

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies begins his first full campaign in charge of the team after replacing Christian Horner in July last year.

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

Speaking ahead of the launch, he said Sky Sports News: “We know that this is going to come with some challenges. We know that we are going to have quite a few sleepless nights and a few headaches, but please be patient during the first few months.

“No one underestimates the size of the mountain we have to climb. This is the kind of challenge we all want to be a part of, and I hope that one day we will emerge victorious.

“I think it would be naive, to say the least, of us to think that yes, we did everything from scratch – with great support from Ford – and then we show up at the first race and we’re on the same level as people who have been doing it for many years.

“It’s not going to be like that. We’re going to be behind, we’re going to be in an incredibly high development season, both on the chassis side and the powertrain side.”

“We believe in our people and, therefore, that we have built what we believe to be an extremely strong team with extremely strong partners.”

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

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

“Well, take that for 2026 times three or four in terms of the rate of development, certainly for us in terms of everything we need to learn. So we’re taking it step by step but with the right level of aggressiveness.”

A new era for Red Bull

Not only does Red Bull build its own engine, but they also start a season without Horner or Dr Helmut Marko for the first time since they arrived on the grid in 2005.

Horner was dismissed as team principal and general manager in July, amid declining form and, surely more importantly, off-track unrest amid a struggle for control of the Milton Keynes team.

Horner’s departure initially appeared to be a good sign for Marko, Red Bull’s long-time motorsport advisor, but the Austrian was also shown the exit door at the end of the 2025 season.

Mekies appeared to make an almost instant impact on and off the track, helping to oversee Verstappen’s return to title contention and also dampening some of the noise around the team with a slightly less confrontational approach than his predecessor.

While legendary designer Adrian Newey’s departure from Red Bull has been confirmed in May 2024, it will also be the first car produced without any involvement on his part.

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

The problem the team will face in case they are unable to compete on the front row is Verstappen, and whether he can be convinced that the good times will return soon and wait for them.

When are F1 pre-season tests?

The introduction of new regulations means there is a strong schedule of three separate test events before the start of the 2026 season.

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

When is the first F1 race?

Teams then have two weeks to prepare for the season-opening round, the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, March 6-8.

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

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