2026 Oracle Red Bull Racing F1 Team

[Vettel165]

Just wait for next week with the new updates. I dont believe a single word, its politics. In reality nobody knows where others are, the cars have a lot less downforce then last year, a good driver will be even more important. This is why I am expecting for Max to make a big difference again, he is usually always fantastic when rules are changing. His ability to adapt to new cars is probably the best on the grid. But he still needs a solid chassis, good-front end grip and a good engine to deliver. Still I am quite optimistic, even if are not the fastest from race 1, it doesnt mean the grid-order will stay the same from lets say round 6,7 on. Lets have some faith.

[pantherxxx]

Waché even managed to talk down the RB19 back then
I wouldn't take that seriously.
From what could be heard/seen by track observers, the car was right up there with the other top cars.

Honestly I never heard Wache saying a single positive word about the car, like ever. Guy is always talking it down, he's the biggest sandbagger ever. Mekies said the same thing about the engine that they will have lot of sleepless nights because it's first engine and don't expect anything good, yet now it looks like the engine is second best or maybe even the best.

[AR3-GP]

The car is overweight. Wache said it will take several races to correct it, so its not a small issue either. Mercedes and Ferrari are reported to be at the weight limit. Those two will be in front from this alone. Then there are balance problems that are identified on this car...it might not be that close.

We have some problems with the minimum weight, but that's the case for everyone. Maybe some have done a better job than us, but we should drop a bit of weight, since we will lose weight race by race. We will not reach the limit, but we are starting from a smaller gap than in 2022

You wouldn't say something like this if you are a small amount away (1-2kg). So it's probably at least 5kg if it would take several races to correct.

[f1isgood]

Wache is usually very honest. RB19 did have obvious weaknesses. They just didnt get lost in development with the car like they did with the RB20 and its failed cooling.

RB19 in the grand scheme of things is actually what a very normal development would yield. Its quite incredible how --- Mercedes and Ferrari were. As McLaren showed, if you understand what you are doing then its not that hard.

RB20 was also crippled because of the useless wind tunnel penalty due to the cost cap. It was always going to be tricky to get it right and they got it wrong. RB21 was a much better recovery obviously aided by more resources.

[CHT]

The car is overweight. Wache said it will take several races to correct it, so its not a small issue either. Mercedes and Ferrari are reported to be at the weight limit. Those two will be in front from this alone. Then there are balance problems that are identified on this car...it might not be that close.

We have some problems with the minimum weight, but that's the case for everyone. Maybe some have done a better job than us, but we should drop a bit of weight, since we will lose weight race by race. We will not reach the limit, but we are starting from a smaller gap than in 2022

You wouldn't say something like this if you are a small amount away (1-2kg). So it's probably at least 5kg if it would take several races to correct.

Is this due to the size and weight of PU battery?

[AR3-GP]

The car is overweight. Wache said it will take several races to correct it, so its not a small issue either. Mercedes and Ferrari are reported to be at the weight limit. Those two will be in front from this alone. Then there are balance problems that are identified on this car...it might not be that close.

We have some problems with the minimum weight, but that's the case for everyone. Maybe some have done a better job than us, but we should drop a bit of weight, since we will lose weight race by race. We will not reach the limit, but we are starting from a smaller gap than in 2022

You wouldn't say something like this if you are a small amount away (1-2kg). So it's probably at least 5kg if it would take several races to correct.

Is this due to the size and weight of PU battery?

It shouldn't be. Minimum weights for PU and battery are generous.

[Jdn1327]

Can someone explain how Redbull can have such mega energy deployment compared to other teams? Is it better energy recovery as well?

Don't believe that story started by Toto and then parroted by other mercedes engined drivers. Redbull were using up a lot of battery in the straights, and very little in other parts of the track (where they were harvesting aggressively) leading to similar lap times as all the other teams. Because general public hasn't get caught on with the 8.5MJ max and the 4MJ SoC 'gap' numbers, there is a narrative campaign to portray Redbull as the 'benchmark'. Redbull 'figured it out' (how to be quick on the straights) the earliest and did their battery management on Day1 of Baharain. By Day3, almost everyone (except AMR) was doing the same. It's a pure diversion tactic by politician Wolff.

Thanks Venky. I thought it might be propaganda because there were no official sources talking about this.

[ME4ME]

The car is overweight. Wache said it will take several races to correct it, so its not a small issue either. Mercedes and Ferrari are reported to be at the weight limit. Those two will be in front from this alone. Then there are balance problems that are identified on this car...it might not be that close.

We have some problems with the minimum weight, but that's the case for everyone. Maybe some have done a better job than us, but we should drop a bit of weight, since we will lose weight race by race. We will not reach the limit, but we are starting from a smaller gap than in 2022

You wouldn't say something like this if you are a small amount away (1-2kg). So it's probably at least 5kg if it would take several races to correct.

Wasn't the 2022 car about 15-20 kg overweight? It took them the better part of half the season to reduce it to a marginal level iirc and I wonder if they ever were at the miminum weight in 2022. Might've taken them a full year and a chassis iteration to finally reach the minimum. As teams have said, it's a tough challenge because they might also add weight through added aero devices/surfaces. It'll take a while for sure. Although there might be low hanging fruit initially.

[Vettel165]

No no no, Max will dominate the field. You heard it here first.

[Valeo]

I would be fine with podium finishes untill summer, winning races after and being a title contender next year again.

[Badger]

The chassis does look 4th best atm, judging by the middle sector times. I think RB has perhaps held back a bit more than others on their quali sims (alongside McLaren) but still lacking slightly to the fastest. That being said the engine looks quite competitive, likely second best (pending the verdict on Mercedes and their sandbagging). If you had to choose you'd definitely take a strong engine at this stage over a great chassis given the potential for improvements in season.

[Vettel165]

The chassis does look 4th best atm, judging by the middle sector times. I think RB has perhaps held back a bit more than others on their quali sims (alongside McLaren) but still lacking slightly to the fastest. That being said the engine looks quite competitive, likely second best (pending the verdict on Mercedes and their sandbagging). If you had to choose you'd definitely take a strong engine at this stage over a great chassis given the potential for improvements in season.

I agree.

[AR3-GP]

Engine is not second best. It’s 3rd. Both Merc and Ferrari are ahead. No one at RBPT and RB are under any illusions. There will be problems (durability) on PU side. We just haven’t seen them yet.

It’s somewhat dissapointing that they don’t make any progress in low and medium speed corners, as if these deficiencies are baked into their design know-how.

If Red Bull couldn’t figure out how to turn a medium speed corner over the last 2 years, regulations changed, and they still are no good in medium speed…

[AR3-GP]

There was a 2nd part to the weight interview:

Waché continues: "So from our side, we have to make sure that we can slim down the car a bit, so that in future updates we no longer have to look at possibly making the car lighter and can fully focus on making the car faster."

"That's ultimately a better position to be in," concludes Waché, who further down the question of exactly how heavy the car is.

https://racingnews365.nl/red-bull-beves ... t=14255111

I'd say atleast 10kg now...

[Gillian]

Engine is not second best. It’s 3rd. Both Merc and Ferrari are ahead. No one at RBPT and RB are under any illusions. There will be problems (durability) on PU side. We just haven’t seen them yet.

It’s somewhat dissapointing that they don’t make any progress in low and medium speed corners, as if these deficiencies are baked into their design know-how.

If Red Bull couldn’t figure out how to turn a medium speed corner over the last 2 years, regulations changed, and they still are no good in medium speed…

Are you sure about the medium speed performance? I find it difficult to judge at this moment.