Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo are set to share the spotlight once again – but this time, it’s not on the race track.
On Thursday evening, the duo will come together in Detroit for the 2026 livery presentations of Red Bull and Racing Bulls, merging the team’s past and present ahead of a landmark season in Formula 1.
The event promises more than just a visual debut. For the first time in its history, Red Bull will field this season a car powered by a power unit designed and built entirely in-house through Red Bull Powertrains.
The programme has been developed in partnership with Ford, who are using the launch to showcase their growing involvement in F1 and underline Detroit as a hub for the sport’s next technological chapter.
The presence of Ricciardo – a Ford ambassador – will surely add a splash of nostalgia to the proceedings. The retired F1 driver and Verstappen shared Red Bull’s garage for three seasons from 2016 to 2018, forming one of the grid’s most popular driver pairings.
Their on-track battles and off-track personalities captured fans’ imaginations, making there Detroit reunion an event in itself, one that will set the stage for moments of reflection, media engagement, and celebration ahead of the 2026 F1 season.
Launching a New Chapter in Red Bull Power
This evening’s event will also formally introduce the Red Bull Powertrains project with Ford, marking a significant departure from Honda as the team embarks on its own engine programme.
Detroit, home to the Ford Motor Company, offers a symbolic backdrop for this milestone – signalling both innovation and a transatlantic partnership.
Red Bull and Racing Bulls will unveil their 2026 liveries in what promises to be a spectacle of colour, technology, and star power.
Fans can catch the launch livestreamed right here below, via the Red Bull Racing YouTube channel from 22h00 local time (3h00 GMT / 4h00 CET).
As the Milton Keynes-based outfit steps into a new chapter with Verstappen leading the charge alongside promote Isack Hadjar, Detroit is set to be the launchpad for a season of bold ambitions and cutting-edge engineering.
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