Red Bull reveals first images of new-era RB22

Oracle Red Bull Racing has pulled back the curtain on its RB22, the machine tasked with spearheading the team's charge into Formula 1’s highly anticipated 2026 regulatory era.

While the racing world caught a glimpse of the team's fresh visual identity during a high-profile livery launch in Detroit on January 15, these new studio images offer the first genuine look – although not in detail – at the intricate engineering of the actual contender.

The RB22 isn't just a new design; it represents a fundamental shift in the team's DNA.

The most significant talking point lies beneath the bodywork. For the first time in its history, the Milton Keynes-based outfit will compete using a power unit birthed from its own backyard: Red Bull Powertrains.

This ambitious in-house project is bolstered by a strategic technical partnership with American automotive giant Ford, marking the "Blue Oval's" iconic return to the F1 grid for the first time since 2004.

The new power unit is designed to meet the 2026 standards, which demand a nearly 50/50 split between internal combustion and electric power, fueled by 100% sustainable energy.

The RB22 will be driven in anger by a blend of legendary experience and soaring ambition, with four-time world champion Max Verstappen and young recruit Isack Hadjar.

From Studio to Circuit

The release by Red Bull of these images serves as the final prologue before the RB22 makes its physical debut. The car is slated to hit the tarmac this week at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for a critical pre-season shakedown.

With 2026 introducing smaller, lighter chassis and active aerodynamics, the Barcelona sessions will provide the first real-world data on whether Red Bull’s "all-in" gamble on its own engine department will pay immediate dividends.

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"To see the energy, precision, and scale behind this project is inspiring," noted Team Principal Laurent Mekies during the earlier Detroit unveiling. "It’s the culmination of years of collaboration."

When the lights go out in Melbourne next March, the world will see if Red Bull's new wings – powered by their own hands and Ford's legacy – can keep them at the front of the pack.

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