Red Bull Racing announced an updated logo design on January 2, 2026 via social media, accompanying the visual with the caption “What’s new, 2026?”. The primary modification involves the reintroduction of a white outline surrounding the “Red Bull” lettering, which last appeared on the team’s race cars during the 2015 season. This design element was removed when Red Bull transitioned to a matte-finish livery for the 2016 season, replacing the glossy paint that had characterized the team’s appearance throughout Sebastian Vettel’s championship-winning years from 2010 to 2013.
The 2016 livery revision introduced a matte navy blue finish that eliminated the shiny metallic appearance of previous seasons, alongside the removal of the white border around the Red Bull branding. Team Principal Christian Horner, who held the position until being replaced by Laurent Mekies in mid-2025, described the matte finish as innovative and aggressive when it was unveiled, confirming that the paintwork had been tested extensively to ensure aerodynamic neutrality. The dayglo-red coloring of the Red Bull text remained consistent throughout this period, but without the white outline that had previously provided contrast against the navy blue background.
The return of the white outline has prompted fan speculation that Red Bull may adopt a more comprehensive visual overhaul for 2026, potentially reverting to design elements from the team’s dominant era under Vettel. Max Verstappen explicitly requested a livery change during a 2024 appearance on the team’s Talking Bull podcast, expressing preference for the shiny color schemes used during Vettel’s tenure rather than the matte-blue designs employed since 2016. Verstappen stated that the team had used matte-blue cars for an extended period and suggested it would be beneficial to introduce variety, specifically mentioning the appeal of the glossy finishes visible on older Red Bull cars displayed at the team’s facility.
Red Bull and Racing Bulls will conduct a joint season launch event on January 15, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan, which will reveal the RB22 and the Racing Bulls car for the first time. The location was selected to recognize Ford’s headquarters city and celebrate the start of the Red Bull Ford Powertrains collaboration, which replaces the Honda partnership that concluded at the end of 2025. Laurent Mekies, who assumed the Team Principal and CEO role from Horner in July 2025, stated that the launch represents a powerful expression of world-class engineering and innovation. The event precedes the first pre-season test at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from January 26-30, followed by official testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 11-13 and February 18-20.
Red Bull finished third in the 2025 constructors’ championship with 589 points, trailing McLaren and Mercedes after a season characterized by inconsistent performance across the second half of the calendar. The team concluded 2025 without a title for the first time since 2020, ending a streak of four consecutive constructors’ championships from 2021 to 2024. Verstappen narrowly missed retaining the drivers’ championship, finishing two points behind Lando Norris who secured his maiden title at the Abu Dhabi season finale. The 2026 season marks Verstappen’s partnership with Isack Hadjar, who replaces Sergio Perez after the Mexican driver’s contract was not renewed following five seasons alongside Verstappen.
Technical reports indicate that Red Bull Powertrains Ford, alongside Mercedes, has identified an interpretation of the 2026 engine regulations related to compression ratios that could provide a performance advantage. The regulations specify a 16:1 compression ratio measured at ambient temperature, but combustion chamber materials that expand under operating heat can effectively increase the compression ratio during running without violating the cold measurement specification. The FIA has reportedly approved these designs, with potential performance gains estimated at approximately ten horsepower, translating to three or four tenths of a second per lap depending on circuit characteristics.
Reports that emerged in December 2025 suggest that the RB22 will feature a double pushrod suspension configuration at both the front and rear axles, a design approach also believed to be under development at Ferrari. This suspension architecture is considered advantageous under 2026 regulations due to improved packaging efficiency with the new power unit specifications, which mandate 50 percent electrification and active aerodynamic systems. Mekies acknowledged that expectations should be tempered regarding Red Bull Powertrains’ first engine, stating it would be unrealistic to expect the new manufacturer to match established competitors including Mercedes, Ferrari, Honda, and Renault immediately.
