Red Bull Reveals RB22 Throwback Blue Livery for Max Verstappen Ahead of 2026 F1 Season
Red Bull unveiled a throwback blue livery for the 2026 Formula 1 season, marking the start of a new era at the team’s launch event in Detroit.
Red Bull and its junior outfit, Racing Bulls, became the first teams to reveal their 2026 look, as they celebrated the beginning of a new engine era on Thursday night at partner Ford’s Detroit headquarters.
For the first time since joining the Formula 1 grid in 2005, Red Bull is building its own engine in collaboration with American auto giant Ford. This milestone coincides with the introduction of new regulations for both power units and chassis.
Max Verstappen was also present at the event as he prepares to reclaim the drivers’ title, after McLaren’s Lando Norris ended his run of four consecutive world championships last year.
Verstappen will have a new teammate, with 21-year-old French driver Isack Hadjar promoted after an impressive rookie season with Racing Bulls.
Red Bull said the RB22 livery represents a return to the glossy finish first seen when the team debuted in 2005.
In a statement, the team added:
“Formula 1 is about to enter a new era with a major overhaul of the sport’s technical regulations. This is also a defining moment for Oracle Red Bull Racing, as the opening round of the season in Melbourne will mark the official race debut of the Red Bull Ford powertrain. For the first time, the team is building both the car and the power unit under one roof.
“To reflect this bold step, the RB22 will wear a livery inspired by Red Bull’s original F1 look. It recalls a more classic Red Bull Racing presence, sharpens reflections, enhances contrast under the lights, and gives the heritage elements of the new livery a richer, more premium feel in motion.”
Mekies: “We will be behind”
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies is set to begin his first full season in charge after replacing Christian Horner last July.
The Frenchman admitted he does not expect the team to start the season fighting for wins as they adapt to the challenges of producing their own engine.
Speaking to Sky Sports News ahead of the launch, he said:
“We know there will be difficulties. We know there will be sleepless nights and headaches, so please bear with us for the first few months.
“No one is underestimating the size of the mountain we have to climb. This is exactly the kind of challenge we all want to take on, and hopefully, in the end, we’ll reach the top.
“It would be naive to think that after building everything from scratch — even with Ford’s incredible support — we could turn up to the first race and be on the same level as teams that have been doing this for years.
“That’s not going to happen. We will be behind, on both the chassis side and the power unit side, in a season with an incredibly high development rate.
“We believe in our people, and that’s why the team we’ve built is a very strong one, with very strong partners.”
Red Bull struggled to match constructors’ champions McLaren during the 2025 season, but Verstappen won six of the final nine Grands Prix and finished the year just two points behind Norris.
“You saw last year, even though it was the final year of the regulation cycle, how much a team could still develop over the season,” Mekies said.
“Now take that development rate and multiply it by three or four for 2026 — especially for us, given how much we still have to learn. So we’ll take it step by step, but with the right level of aggression.”
A new era for Red Bull
Red Bull is not only building its own engine, but for the first time since 2005, the team will start a season without Christian Horner or Dr. Helmut Marko.
Horner was removed from his roles as team principal and CEO in July following off-track turmoil, including declining form and a power struggle within the Milton Keynes-based team.
While Horner’s departure initially appeared to strengthen long-time Red Bull motorsport advisor Marko’s position, the Austrian was also shown the door at the end of the 2025 season.
Mekies made an almost immediate impact both on and off the track, helping bring Verstappen back into the title fight while also calming some of the noise around the team with a less confrontational leadership style than his predecessor.
With legendary designer Adrian Newey’s exit confirmed in May 2024, this will be the first Red Bull car built without any involvement from him.
Given the number of uncertainties heading into the new season, simply being close to the title fight would be a major achievement for Red Bull.
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