Red Bull And Racing Bulls Reveal Striking 2026 F1 Liveries In Detroit

Oracle Red Bull Racing and its sister team, Visa Cash App Racing Bulls (VCARB), turned heads in Detroit on January 15, 2026, as they unveiled their bold new liveries for the upcoming Formula 1 season. The much-anticipated event, staged at the historic Michigan Central Station, marked a defining moment for both teams as they prepare to enter a new era of Formula One, powered for the first time by the Red Bull Ford Powertrains partnership.

The evening’s excitement was kicked off in true Red Bull fashion. As the crowd buzzed with anticipation, Red Bull pilot Martin Sonka soared above, executing a jaw-dropping stunt that saw his plane rip the cover off the new RB22, revealing a livery that instantly evoked nostalgia for fans and team members alike. The return to a gloss finish, reminiscent of Red Bull Racing’s 2005 debut, was immediately apparent. The RB22’s heritage white base, combined with sharper reflections and a subtle jacquard pattern, allowed the iconic sun and bull logo to stand out with renewed vibrancy under the Detroit lights.

Laurent Mekies, CEO and Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing, couldn’t hide his enthusiasm for the new look. "Seeing the new livery for the first time is one of those special moments, it starts to make you feel excited about the new season. We are going to look spectacular on track! This is a new and significant era for the sport as a whole and for us as a team. We wanted our livery to reflect this, while also giving a nod to Red Bull Racing’s beginnings. This livery is designed to celebrate the spirit of our early days and to be the most eye-catching on the grid. In the year that an Oracle Red Bull Racing car will run a Red Bull Ford Powertrains PU for the first time, it felt only right to reflect some of our history in our livery."

For the 2026 season, Red Bull’s driver lineup features a familiar face and an ambitious newcomer. Four-time world champion Max Verstappen, switching to his favored number 3, is joined by Isack Hadjar, who steps up from the Racing Bulls after a promising rookie season. Verstappen expressed his excitement, stating, "I love the new livery, it looks really nice and I think it is going to stand out on track this year. The gloss is cool, it is a more retro look, the color is really bold and blue, I really like it. Seeing it in real life was special and I was really impressed and surprised by how much of a change it is. The whole look brings back a lot of great memories of back in the day when I was just starting out in F1 and everything was new. I’m excited to drive a car with a completely different look. I’m not sure the mechanics will be happy about the time it’ll take to keep this clean! But, it’s going to look really slick and will be nice for everyone to see out on track."

Isack Hadjar echoed Verstappen’s sentiments, embracing both the heritage and the new direction. "There’s been some exciting moments and a lot of firsts for me in the last few months, since I found out I would be driving for Oracle Red Bull Racing, and when I saw the 2026 livery it was up there with one of the best. Things are starting to feel a lot more real now and I can’t wait to drive with this livery on the car, I love the new, yet heritage, look, it’s super cool. It’s a new era for me and it’s pretty crazy that the Team and the whole sport are entering one at the same time too, it all feels very special. Being here in Detroit and seeing the livery in real life and the scale of what we have done to create a power unit is getting me hyped for this season. Now I just want to get into the RB22 with our own engine and go racing!"

This season also marks a seismic shift for Red Bull as the team will, for the first time, build both car and power unit under the same roof. The debut of the Red Bull Ford Powertrains engine at the season opener in Melbourne is a significant milestone, signaling the end of reliance on previous powertrain manufacturers and the beginning of a new chapter in technical innovation. Ford branding now graces the nose and the bottom-back section of the airbox, while Oracle continues to dominate the sidepods, reflecting the team’s evolving identity.

Not to be outdone, Visa Cash App Racing Bulls introduced their own 2026 livery and welcomed new driver Arvid Lindblad at the same Detroit spectacle. Set against the majestic backdrop of Michigan Central Station, the team’s reveal was punctuated by a high-energy performance from Detroit’s own Big Sean, who introduced the Racing Bulls with a custom Red Bull rap and closed the event with his chart-topping hits. The VCARB’s livery stands apart with bold blocks of white and blue, underscoring the team’s unique identity within the Red Bull family.

Peter Bayer, CEO of VCARB, highlighted the significance of the event: "This launch captures the evolution of Visa Cash App Racing Bulls as a brand and as a racing team. From having Detroit as a backdrop representing our partnership with Ford, to the creators, fans and communities we’ve brought into this launch, everything reflects our ambition to stand for being a culture-first team. We want to connect with the next generation in a way that feels authentic, bold and inclusive, and this moment marks the continuation of what we do both on and off the track."

Alan Permane, Team Principal of Racing Bulls, emphasized the technical revolution underway in Formula One. "2026 represents one of the biggest technical changes Formula One has seen, and partnering with Ford at the very start of this journey is hugely significant for us. The Red Bull Ford Powertrains project brings together world-class engineering, innovation, and racing DNA, and it puts us in a strong position as the sport enters this new era. We have been working closely together and are proud of what the Red Bull family have developed. It’s something we’re excited to have in our race car as we hit the track in the coming weeks."

For the drivers, the moment was nothing short of surreal. Arvid Lindblad, stepping into his first full-time Formula One seat, said, "This moment is honestly surreal. To be introduced as a Formula One driver at an event like this, in such an iconic setting, is something I’ll never forget. The team’s vision, the new power unit, and the belief they’ve shown in me mean a lot. I’m ready to learn, to work, and to give everything on track as we start this new chapter together." Liam Lawson, another key figure for VCARB, remarked, "Launching the 2026 livery here in Detroit makes the moment feel even more special. The history of innovation in this place really reflects what this team is building for the future. The partnership between Ford and Red Bull, the energy around the team, and the ambition for what’s ahead make this an incredibly exciting time to be part of VCARB. I’m more motivated than ever to push forward and help turn that vision into results on track."

The event also spotlighted the addition of Octave as an Asset Lifecycle Management Partner for VCARB, promising to support the team’s strategic and operational decision-making as the season unfolds.

With the Australian Grand Prix in March set as the stage for the debut of these Red Bull-backed, Ford-powered machines, anticipation is at a fever pitch. The 2026 season doesn’t just usher in new technical regulations for Formula One—it signals the dawn of a new era for Red Bull, Ford, and the next generation of racing talent. Fans and rivals alike will be watching closely as these teams take to the track, their fresh liveries gleaming and ambitions higher than ever.