2026 Oracle Red Bull Racing F1 Team

[Badger]

We have no clue what the difference is between their energy stores except form factor. Assuming one is more performant than the other because of shape is cartoon level analysis. Also this issue of performance is rather nonsensical because it is capped, all batteries will be built to handle the known demands. RBPT is not running through ES units at a higher rate than other manufacturers so there's no reason to suspect "degradation" or whatever. These are invented problems based on complete speculation.

On the other hand, seeing how Merc has performed relative to its customer teams it is quite reasonable to assume that software has a major impact on energy deployment. For RBPT the software plus hardware integration is the main improvement, not the performance of any individual component.

[AR3-GP]

We have no clue what the difference is between their energy stores except form factor. Assuming one is more performant than the other because of shape is cartoon level analysis.

I haven't made any assumptions "because of shape". It's part of the bigger picture. I am also speaking more broadly against claims that "it can only be software because 350kW cap". The hybrid system has a large design space and it's willful ignorance to just assume "Everyone has the same thing, it's just software".

Honda's white pages make it clear that development in this area is open ended and there is significant room for differentiation. Battery technology is not mature like combustion. To make an analogy, batteries today are at the level of carburetors and port injection. They haven't discovered direct injection nevermind turbulent jet ignition.

One day someone will have a solid state battery (How Mercedes F1 helped Mercedes-Benz achieve a solid-state battery milestone | Raceteq).

No idea why people are trivializing this. It's complex and Honda wrote about it.

From a different perspective, this means it provides an increased level of usable energy. And with greater resistance to deterioration compared to older ESSs, with a minimal drop in output, the greater the distance traveled, the greater the difference in performance between the new and old ESSs.

Due to higher efficiency and lower loss in the new ESS, the MGU-K and MGU-H can be deployed for a longer period of time on the drive side compared to previous ESSs, even if energy recovery levels are the same. The volumetric output density (W/kg) of the new ESS introduced in the 12th round of the 2021 season is 1.3 times greater than that of the ESS used in 2020 and 2021 seasons. Using the 2015 ESS as the base, the 2021 ESS is 26% smaller and 15% lighter, which contributes greatly from the perspectives of energy management and optimizing vehicle driving performance.

https://global.honda/en/tech/motorsport ... train_ESS/

This was a 1 season upgrade! What do you think the other teams are doing with their ADUO? Honda had been in F1 for 4 years as a PU supplier and were still finding heaps of performance in the Energy store. It's not even an assumption at this point that Red Bull have a very immature hybrid system from a design point of view. It isn't "just software issues". This is where being a new PU manufacturer is showing. Their hybrid system is bulky and likely is not as efficient as the one from Brixworth.

[FittingMechanics]

Foreshadowing a rumor I've seen about ADUO...

“I don't think we go into next year with any disadvantage compared to Mercedes, McLaren or Ferrari,” Mekies adds. “It doesn't mean that it will be us or them or whatever. It means that you will have four top teams that will have fairly equal chance to develop their car to challenge for the title next year.”

https://racer.com/2026/08/13/have-we-un ... hievements

What is the rumour?

[Badger]

We have no clue what the difference is between their energy stores except form factor. Assuming one is more performant than the other because of shape is cartoon level analysis.

I haven't made any assumptions "because of shape". It's part of the bigger picture. I am also speaking more broadly against claims that "it can only be software because 350kW cap". The hybrid system has a large design space and it's willful ignorance to just assume "Everyone has the same thing, it's just software".

Honda's white pages make it clear that development in this area is open ended and there is significant room for differentiation. Battery technology is not mature like combustion. To make an analogy, batteries today are at the level of carburetors and port injection. They haven't discovered direct injection nevermind turbulent jet ignition.

One day someone will have a solid state battery (How Mercedes F1 helped Mercedes-Benz achieve a solid-state battery milestone | Raceteq).

No idea why people are trivializing this. It's complex and Honda wrote about it.

From a different perspective, this means it provides an increased level of usable energy. And with greater resistance to deterioration compared to older ESSs, with a minimal drop in output, the greater the distance traveled, the greater the difference in performance between the new and old ESSs.

Due to higher efficiency and lower loss in the new ESS, the MGU-K and MGU-H can be deployed for a longer period of time on the drive side compared to previous ESSs, even if energy recovery levels are the same. The volumetric output density (W/kg) of the new ESS introduced in the 12th round of the 2021 season is 1.3 times greater than that of the ESS used in 2020 and 2021 seasons. Using the 2015 ESS as the base, the 2021 ESS is 26% smaller and 15% lighter, which contributes greatly from the perspectives of energy management and optimizing vehicle driving performance.

https://global.honda/en/tech/motorsport ... train_ESS/

This was a 1 season upgrade! What do you think the other teams are doing with their ADUO? Honda had been in F1 for 4 years as a PU supplier and were still finding heaps of performance in the Energy store. It's not even an assumption at this point that Red Bull have a very immature hybrid system from a design point of view. It isn't "just software issues". This is where being a new PU manufacturer is showing. Their hybrid system is bulky and likely is not as efficient as the one from Brixworth.

The differentiation will mostly have an impact on packaging and reliability, not power. Let’s not forget who RBPT’s head of electronics is, they already know a lot.

[hollus]

We have no clue what the difference is between their energy stores except form factor…

The differentiation will mostly have an impact on packaging and reliability, not power.

Having no clue cuts both ways, or thrice ways: better, equal or worse.
Agree to disagree?
Let’s not fill pages with stalled discussion for the sake of it.

[euv2]

No leaks about any updates expected this week, even Erik Van Haren seems to have cooled off with the RBR updates, I guess we'll know only on Thursday. If there's a major update, this might be one of the only chances for a win this season given Mercedes is bringing their big update a bit later in Malaysia/Singapore, MCL in Baku. Ferrari with their new floor/aero will make big gains and will also fight for the win.

Or is it too early for another major update for Red bull given the scale of the Austria update, they've yet to update the diffuser this season so might get something in that area.

[Rikhart]

I would be happy if they manage to find the part(s?) that are deforming and causing progressive performance loss over weekends.

[Wouter]

If there's a major update, ..........

.
There will only be some minor updates this year. No major update.

[AR3-GP]

EvH is saying Hadjar has injured his wrist and will miss the Dutch GP.

There's a good chance that Isack Hadjar will miss the Dutch Grand Prix due to a wrist injury.
In that case, Liam Lawson will temporarily return to Red Bull Racing in Zandvoort. And Yuki Tsunoda is ready to step in at Racing Bulls.

[ispano6]

What a load of bull. Let Yuki drive the RedBull. Screw Mekies.

[carisi2k]

Yuki is the RB reserve driver and should be stepping in.

[Badger]

Lawson has earned it, he's best of the rest. He'll probably have to leave next year anyways due to Tsolov, but his performance this year will probably net him a seat somewhere else, he's the next Gasly.

Tsunoda is of no interest really, he had his chance and there's no space in the program for him anymore. RB's academy has knocked it out of the park with Hadjar, Lindblad, and Tsolov back to back to back.

[kptaylor]

This is where RB will bring about a ban on second teams. If Hadjar is unable to drive, Yuki, as the reserve driver, should be driving. Switching in a driver currently racing and up to speed on '26 regs will be pointed to as a reason B teams are an unfair advantage.

[Farnborough]

This is where RB will bring about a ban on second teams. If Hadjar is unable to drive, Yuki, as the reserve driver, should be driving. Switching in a driver currently racing and up to speed on '26 regs will be pointed to as a reason B teams are an unfair advantage.

What? A bit like GR replacing LH at merc when he was "living" at Williams, while contracted to MB.

Or OB contracted to Ferrari and "living" at Haas, a Ferrari customer team.

You could cut it all ways, couldn't you.

[Badger]

This is where RB will bring about a ban on second teams. If Hadjar is unable to drive, Yuki, as the reserve driver, should be driving. Switching in a driver currently racing and up to speed on '26 regs will be pointed to as a reason B teams are an unfair advantage.