Red Bull RB22: Retro blue design and Ford mark F1 2026 from Detroit

Red Bull Racing Unveils Retro Design for the 2026 Formula One Season

The Red Bull Racing team presented in Detroit, an iconic Ford city, the design of its RB22 single-seater for the 2026 Formula One season. The new design stands out for a bright retro-style blue, paying homage to the Red Bulls of the early 2010s. The event was attended by Max Verstappen, four-time world champion, who celebrated the team’s aesthetic change, as well as the young French driver Isack Hadjar, who will make his debut in the top category of motorsport.

“It’s much better. I’d been asking for it for a while. I like the shine, I like the blue, it’s my favorite color. I also like the edges of the Red Bull logo, they’re back. It looks much fresher,” expressed Verstappen.

Max Verstappen

Verstappen, Formula One champion in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, also highlighted the color change in the team’s uniforms, with a blue tone reminiscent of Ford’s historical colors. Detroit’s selection as the event venue is due to Ford’s return to Formula One as a technical and brand partner of Red Bull for the new power unit, ahead of the 2026 season, which will begin in March at the Australian Grand Prix.

“125 years ago, my great-grandfather Henry Ford won a race here in Detroit, which helped drive the creation of Ford Motor Company. Tonight we honor that legacy by celebrating our return to the highest level of motorsport,” said William Clay Ford Jr., company chairman.

William Clay Ford Jr.

The 2026 season will mark a transformation in Formula One, with smaller and lighter single-seaters, new hybrid engines with a greater electrical component and active aerodynamics, changes designed to improve the spectacle and competitiveness on the track. Ford replaces Honda as the power unit supplier for Red Bull, strengthening a strategic alliance that marks a new era for the team. During the event, the design of Racing Bulls for 2026 was also presented, along with its drivers Liam Lawson (New Zealand) and Arvid Lindblad (Great Britain). The activity also included the presence of the executive president of Formula One, Stefano Domenicali, who highlighted the importance of the regulatory change.

“Every major regulatory change brings new blood, new energy and new ideas. This year will be incredible,” Domenicali stated.

Stefano Domenicali