Image: from Sofia Siriatou X@sophia_wrc
By Sports Desk with Agencies
MILTON KEYNES — Friday, January 16, 2026 — Red Bull Racing has officially opened the doors to its future. In a global event broadcast from its Milton Keynes headquarters, the Austrian team presented the livery that will adorn its cars for the 2026 Formula 1 season. The launch marks the beginning of a technical revolution, featuring the debut of the Red Bull Ford Powertrains unit, developed in-house with support from the American automotive giant.
Visual Identity: Tradition and Modernity
The 2026 livery respects the brand’s DNA while featuring refinements that reflect this new chapter. The classic navy blue now features a dynamic gradient, becoming more vibrant on the upper part of the chassis and darkening toward the floor.
The absolute standout is the Ford Racing logo on the engine cover. This technical partnership with Ford is the centerpiece of Red Bull’s strategy to achieve total autonomy, ending a successful seven-year cycle with Honda. To protect aerodynamic secrets, the team chose to display only the color scheme, keeping the actual car’s design solutions under wraps until pre-season testing.
The Driver Lineup: Experience and Youth
In the cockpit, Red Bull is betting on a combination of continuity and renewal:
-
Max Verstappen: The three-time champion (seeking to reclaim the crown after Lando Norris’s 2025 title) leads the project. Verstappen missed out on a fifth title by just two points last year and enters 2026 with a point to prove.
-
Isack Hadjar: The big news of the season. The 21-year-old Frenchman, a product of the Red Bull Junior Team, takes the second seat after an impressive debut season highlighted by a podium at the Dutch GP. Hadjar replaces the previous veteran structure to prove the driver academy is still the strongest on the grid.
The Heart of the Project: Red Bull Ford Powertrains
For the first time in its history, Red Bull will be responsible for the full manufacturing of its engine. Under the new 2026 regulations, which increase reliance on electrical power and utilize 100% sustainable fuels, the power unit was created from scratch at the team’s technology campus.
Technical and Sporting Profile: Red Bull 2026
| Component/Item | Details for the 2026 Season |
| Power Unit | Red Bull Ford Powertrains (In-house). |
| Fuel | 100% Sustainable (2026 FIA Regulations). |
| Driver 1 | Max Verstappen (Long-term contract). |
| Driver 2 | Isack Hadjar (Team debut). |
| Technical Partner | Ford Performance / Ford Racing. |
| Objective | Reclaim the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Titles. |
Red Bull begins 2026 not just as a racing team, but as a full manufacturer. The transition to in-house engines is the biggest risk and greatest opportunity in the team’s history. With a motivated Verstappen and the youthful energy of Hadjar, the “Ford Era” starts with high expectations of maintaining the dominance that defined the last decade of Formula 1.