2026 Oracle Red Bull Racing F1 Team

[Aesop]

This is roughly where I expect them to be.

Yeah, top 5 would be nice, finishing the race will probably do the trick. Podium will be out of reach i think. Still early days though.

[Ground Effect]

Four Years, One Vision: The Red Bull Ford Powertrains Story!

Superb video.
They have taken care to ensure CH isn't present in any video shot. They could have paid a 'thank you' atleast via a text banner at start/end (like they do in movies).

It simply feels 'wrong' to comprehensively omit CH from this video. It's cruel.

Why? He isn't there anymore.

[AR3-GP]

VER:

"There wasn't much we could have asked to go better today. We're happy with what we've done so far. But if we really want to fight at the front, we need to be faster. That's exactly what we're working on."

I get the impression that it's not an evil car. Hadjar was in the top 10 in both sessions. It just lacks downforce compared to the leaders. They lose time in the corners.

[chrisc90]

Extra 30mph needed then which he said would happen come the 1st race.

At least it might be 2 less races before the engine gets a nerf in June

[avantman]

I get the impression that it's not an evil car. Hadjar was in the top 10 in both sessions.

You mean that car is NOT “made for Max”? Yet…

[Vettel165]

Oh dear so we are the 4. fastest team, Leclerc said we are the second fastest just behind Mercedes. If first is true, then its a shame, I was very happy after FP1, and now after FP2 we need updates in the next races to improve. But we will see tomorrow in Q3 the real pace, Mclaren and Mercedes with their "legal" engine are scary.

[euv2]

I wonder how much Mercedes' pace advantage vs Red bull is down to the engine vs aero. Is the aero deficit bigger currently? I find it hard to believe.

[nitrotech]

I wonder how much Mercedes' pace advantage vs Red bull is down to the engine vs aero. Is the aero deficit bigger currently? I find it hard to believe.

Red Bull kept developing RB21 quite late last year in the hope of winning the driver's championship. That has compromised the RB22 development. While the W17 looked planted and easy to drive, RB22 isn't as good to drive and bites a bit. Mercedes put the whole of last year for W17.

PU is different story. After the initial surprise, people are taking it for granted as to how difficult it is build a new power unit. It may not be as good as Merc, but it definitely is no slouch. By next year, it would most likely match Mercedes PU. Now it's a race for enhancing the rest of the car.

[Vettel165]

I wonder how much Mercedes' pace advantage vs Red bull is down to the engine vs aero. Is the aero deficit bigger currently? I find it hard to believe.

Red Bull kept developing RB21 quite late last year in the hope of winning the driver's championship. That has compromised the RB22 development. While the W17 looked planted and easy to drive, RB22 isn't as good to drive and bites a bit. Mercedes put the whole of last year for W17.

PU is different story. After the initial surprise, people are taking it for granted as to how difficult it is build a new power unit. It may not be as good as Merc, but it definitely is no slouch. By next year, it would most likely match Mercedes PU. Now it's a race for enhancing the rest of the car.

Indeed Red Bull has a solid base for the future, lets see.

[Badger]

There's more to come on the single lap in terms of deployment. Still lacking some cornering speed to the others in the top 4. Can't judge race pace really because of Max's off but it should be lacking some. I wonder if this is just part of their normal Friday routine, saving PU life and not revealing all the pace.

[f1isgood]

VER:

"There wasn't much we could have asked to go better today. We're happy with what we've done so far. But if we really want to fight at the front, we need to be faster. That's exactly what we're working on."

I get the impression that it's not an evil car. Hadjar was in the top 10 in both sessions. It just lacks downforce compared to the leaders. They lose time in the corners.

Its the start of a new regulations. We will see where the car goes as the regulations progress. It is not supposed to be an evil car at this point. Also Hadjar might just be a notch better than the other second drivers the team has had.

Their chassis performance is underwhelming.

[Badger]

VER:

"There wasn't much we could have asked to go better today. We're happy with what we've done so far. But if we really want to fight at the front, we need to be faster. That's exactly what we're working on."

I get the impression that it's not an evil car. Hadjar was in the top 10 in both sessions. It just lacks downforce compared to the leaders. They lose time in the corners.

Its the start of a new regulations. We will see where the car goes as the regulations progress. It is not supposed to be an evil car at this point. Also Hadjar might just be a notch better than the other second drivers the team has had.

Their chassis performance is underwhelming.

Merc and Ferrari basically spent most of last year only focusing on 2026. It's expected RB wouldn't be as developed on the chassis IMO.

[euv2]

A hierarchy of the top 4?

Charles: "It's difficult right now, because we don't know what the others are doing, and it's the same for them with us. I don't know if Mercedes still has 50 horsepower in reserve and they'll only reveal it in qualifying, and if that's the case, we're much further off than we think. If not, I expect us to be closer, only time will tell."

"My feeling is that we're the 2nd/3rd force with Red Bull, McLaren seems just a tiny bit behind and Mercedes seems ahead. We'll see."

[f1isgood]

VER:


I get the impression that it's not an evil car. Hadjar was in the top 10 in both sessions. It just lacks downforce compared to the leaders. They lose time in the corners.

Its the start of a new regulations. We will see where the car goes as the regulations progress. It is not supposed to be an evil car at this point. Also Hadjar might just be a notch better than the other second drivers the team has had.

Their chassis performance is underwhelming.

Merc and Ferrari basically spent most of last year only focusing on 2026. It's expected RB wouldn't be as developed on the chassis IMO.

I don't think it's as expected as people make it out in hindsight. Red Bull are generally a very efficient team.

Their last actual upgrade was commissioned pretty far back and the Mexico floor was just some minor optimization using CFD without using Wind Tunnel.

They had 15% more resources than McLaren and my impression was they had found a pretty reasonable compromise and had set the right targets.

In fact, I was expecting a reliable but lower powered engine and a very good chassis. Looks like they have a better-than-expected engine and a slightly weaker chassis.

Mercedes for instance also brought a front wing to Baku. Thats pretty late into developing the car as well.

Ferrari is understandable. But with respect to Mercedes and McLaren I am a bit surprised they're lacking quite a bit early on. Maybe quite a bit is an exaggeration but I don't think they're in Mercedes' ballpark right now.

[AR3-GP]

Mercedes for instance also brought a front wing to Baku. Thats pretty late into developing the car as well.

Ferrari is understandable. But with respect to Mercedes and McLaren I am a bit surprised they're lacking quite a bit early on. Maybe quite a bit is an exaggeration but I don't think they're in Mercedes' ballpark right now.

If they are 5-6 tenths back, then I would estimate the following vs Mercedes:

PU - 1 tenth
Overweight (5-7kg) - 2 tenths
Aero - 2 tenths

So the outlook is not that bad. PUs will get a little bit closer after Monaco when Merc can't go above 16:1. They will also eventually reach the weight limit. Then being within 2 tenths of the leaders on the chassis/aero side isn't terrible.