2026 Oracle Red Bull Racing F1 Team

[FittingMechanics]

Utter tragedy. Not even this particular piece of evidence, but the fact the majority of fan base finds this proper racing, even exciting. Even so many on this very forum, which was supposed to be for more like connoisseurs of motorport rather than just casual fans.

What is tragic about it? This is exactly what was expected and predicted before the season started. Anyone reading the deployment rules could understand that it meant a driver can use the energy at different positions on track, which will lead to him overtaking and then he'd need to defend at the subsequent straight. Even if there was no superclip and we had MGU-H (or front axle regen) fill up the battery, we would still see things like this happen.

In this situation it is visible that Gasly started to charge the battery well before the chicane, Verstappen didn't and overtook him but then Gasly had much more energy to use on the main straight. It's exactly as expected. Verstappen (and others) needs to learn how to overtake with minimal energy differential, if he started to charge as soon as he started to gain on Gasly he would have had more energy on the straight and maybe he'd be able to defend.

He lost out on this occasion because it is suboptimal to use up energy before the chicane, he chose to try it to see if he can keep Gasly behind but failed to do it. It's similar to taking a different (slower) line to try and set up a move, or doing a dive bomb hoping to manage to keep the other car behind who was able to keep higher apex speeds.

[Vettel165]

Utter tragedy. Not even this particular piece of evidence, but the fact the majority of fan base finds this proper racing, even exciting. Even so many on this very forum, which was supposed to be for more like connoisseurs of motorport rather than just casual fans.
But what if I’m wrong and it’s simply silly Max didn’t use his energy strategically enough, not being capable of adapting to new demands , unlike the next Senna young Kimi?

Indeed the overtakes are artificial and not real, I feel zero excitement when one car passes another. Its just a battery management-arcade game, F1 was always about who has the biggest balls into the corner. I would rate this new rules 1/10, a big change is needed. And also Red Bull needs to make a big change/update, in Miami they will lower some of the weight on the car. But otherwise in terms of racing its very bad, to lose 40-50 km in the middle of the straight is not just a big joke, but very dangerous. Peak top speed should always be at the end of the straight, it always was like that. Skills dont matter anymore how quick you are in the corners. F1 was/always should be like this, who is best in the corners should win the race/WDC. And now the straights matter the most on which you need zero skills... A big shame...

[gandharva]

Utter tragedy. Not even this particular piece of evidence, but the fact the majority of fan base finds this proper racing, even exciting. Even so many on this very forum, which was supposed to be for more like connoisseurs of motorport rather than just casual fans.

What is tragic about it? This is exactly what was expected and predicted before the season started. Anyone reading the deployment rules could understand that it meant a driver can use the energy at different positions on track, which will lead to him overtaking and then he'd need to defend at the subsequent straight. Even if there was no superclip and we had MGU-H (or front axle regen) fill up the battery, we would still see things like this happen.

In this situation it is visible that Gasly started to charge the battery well before the chicane, Verstappen didn't and overtook him but then Gasly had much more energy to use on the main straight. It's exactly as expected. Verstappen (and others) needs to learn how to overtake with minimal energy differential, if he started to charge as soon as he started to gain on Gasly he would have had more energy on the straight and maybe he'd be able to defend.

He lost out on this occasion because it is suboptimal to use up energy before the chicane, he chose to try it to see if he can keep Gasly behind but failed to do it. It's similar to taking a different (slower) line to try and set up a move, or doing a dive bomb hoping to manage to keep the other car behind who was able to keep higher apex speeds.

Max was obviously trolling out there. He basically put on a live demo of how broken this ruleset is, but somehow people still manage to turn it into a "driver mistake". That’s honestly the funniest part. Instead of acknowledging what’s blatantly happening, you’d rather nitpick what Max supposedly did wrong.

[avantman]

Utter tragedy. Not even this particular piece of evidence, but the fact the majority of fan base finds this proper racing, even exciting. Even so many on this very forum, which was supposed to be for more like connoisseurs of motorport rather than just casual fans.

What is tragic about it? This is exactly what was expected and predicted before the season started. Anyone reading the deployment rules could understand that it meant a driver can use the energy at different positions on track, which will lead to him overtaking and then he'd need to defend at the subsequent straight. Even if there was no superclip and we had MGU-H (or front axle regen) fill up the battery, we would still see things like this happen.

In this situation it is visible that Gasly started to charge the battery well before the chicane, Verstappen didn't and overtook him but then Gasly had much more energy to use on the main straight. It's exactly as expected. Verstappen (and others) needs to learn how to overtake with minimal energy differential, if he started to charge as soon as he started to gain on Gasly he would have had more energy on the straight and maybe he'd be able to defend.

He lost out on this occasion because it is suboptimal to use up energy before the chicane, he chose to try it to see if he can keep Gasly behind but failed to do it. It's similar to taking a different (slower) line to try and set up a move, or doing a dive bomb hoping to manage to keep the other car behind who was able to keep higher apex speeds.

Tragic for F1, its legacy and utter essence, is that the majority of fan base accepts and approves this, based on what I see at reddit (more representative than this and some other F1 related forums for sure), which means this sort of racing and these regulations are here to stay for many years. Fanbase is the only power that could force change, especially when even drivers cannot get united.
Thanks for confirming Max just being an utter idiot that still couldn’t figure out even the basic things that we fans can, whereas smart Gasly outraced the guy driving the slower Alpine. That’s what I suspected but couldn’t let myself to admit due to my biases.

[Gillian]

Utter tragedy. Not even this particular piece of evidence, but the fact the majority of fan base finds this proper racing, even exciting. Even so many on this very forum, which was supposed to be for more like connoisseurs of motorport rather than just casual fans.

What is tragic about it? This is exactly what was expected and predicted before the season started. Anyone reading the deployment rules could understand that it meant a driver can use the energy at different positions on track, which will lead to him overtaking and then he'd need to defend at the subsequent straight. Even if there was no superclip and we had MGU-H (or front axle regen) fill up the battery, we would still see things like this happen.

In this situation it is visible that Gasly started to charge the battery well before the chicane, Verstappen didn't and overtook him but then Gasly had much more energy to use on the main straight. It's exactly as expected. Verstappen (and others) needs to learn how to overtake with minimal energy differential, if he started to charge as soon as he started to gain on Gasly he would have had more energy on the straight and maybe he'd be able to defend.

He lost out on this occasion because it is suboptimal to use up energy before the chicane, he chose to try it to see if he can keep Gasly behind but failed to do it. It's similar to taking a different (slower) line to try and set up a move, or doing a dive bomb hoping to manage to keep the other car behind who was able to keep higher apex speeds.

You are right if you look at this moment in isolation but if you actually take a look at his race then you'd see he tried many different ways but always lacked some power.

Not directing this to you but it is kinda silly to keep reading comments about Verstappen needs to learn this and that when if you actually look at the footage and telemetry it is clear the car is the problem, not the driver of drive style whatever. Its like telling a Williams driver in 2025 to learn to do this or that so he can keep up with a Mclaren.... The Red Bull is a midfield car at best, a very unbalanced one at that.

[FittingMechanics]

You are right if you look at this moment in isolation but if you actually take a look at his race then you'd see he tried many different ways but always lacked some power.

Not directing this to you but it is kinda silly to keep reading comments about Verstappen needs to learn this and that when if you actually look at the footage and telemetry it is clear the car is the problem, not the driver of drive style whatever. Its like telling a Williams driver in 2025 to learn to do this or that so he can keep up with a Mclaren.... The Red Bull is a midfield car at best, a very unbalanced one at that.

Sure, it is possible Gasly had the faster car and Verstappen. In that case no wonder that Verstappen couldn't overtake and the energy rules allowed him at least a chance to try something out. In a normal engine formula he would have been stuck behind with no chance of any overlap/overtake.

This is my point, the energy rules allow for variability throughout the lap. You can choose to be fast on one straight instead of on the other. You still have the same energy available as others, it is your choice what you want to do. It may look less impressive than nailing an overtake after 5 laps of preparation but it still takes a lot of skill to do it.

[avantman]

Utter tragedy. Not even this particular piece of evidence, but the fact the majority of fan base finds this proper racing, even exciting. Even so many on this very forum, which was supposed to be for more like connoisseurs of motorport rather than just casual fans.

What is tragic about it? This is exactly what was expected and predicted before the season started. Anyone reading the deployment rules could understand that it meant a driver can use the energy at different positions on track, which will lead to him overtaking and then he'd need to defend at the subsequent straight. Even if there was no superclip and we had MGU-H (or front axle regen) fill up the battery, we would still see things like this happen.

In this situation it is visible that Gasly started to charge the battery well before the chicane, Verstappen didn't and overtook him but then Gasly had much more energy to use on the main straight. It's exactly as expected. Verstappen (and others) needs to learn how to overtake with minimal energy differential, if he started to charge as soon as he started to gain on Gasly he would have had more energy on the straight and maybe he'd be able to defend.

He lost out on this occasion because it is suboptimal to use up energy before the chicane, he chose to try it to see if he can keep Gasly behind but failed to do it. It's similar to taking a different (slower) line to try and set up a move, or doing a dive bomb hoping to manage to keep the other car behind who was able to keep higher apex speeds.

Max was obviously trolling out there. He basically put on a live demo of how broken this ruleset is, but somehow people still manage to turn it into a "driver mistake". That’s honestly the funniest part. Instead of acknowledging what’s blatantly happening, you’d rather nitpick what Max supposedly did wrong.

Max should spend a day reading this very forum to understand what he should do to overtake (because he clearly still has no idea), especially the slower car, instead of constantly wasting his time sim racing.

[Gillian]

You are right if you look at this moment in isolation but if you actually take a look at his race then you'd see he tried many different ways but always lacked some power.

Not directing this to you but it is kinda silly to keep reading comments about Verstappen needs to learn this and that when if you actually look at the footage and telemetry it is clear the car is the problem, not the driver of drive style whatever. Its like telling a Williams driver in 2025 to learn to do this or that so he can keep up with a Mclaren.... The Red Bull is a midfield car at best, a very unbalanced one at that.

Sure, it is possible Gasly had the faster car and Verstappen. In that case no wonder that Verstappen couldn't overtake and the energy rules allowed him at least a chance to try something out. In a normal engine formula he would have been stuck behind with no chance of any overlap/overtake.

This is my point, the energy rules allow for variability throughout the lap. You can choose to be fast on one straight instead of on the other. You still have the same energy available as others, it is your choice what you want to do. It may look less impressive than nailing an overtake after 5 laps of preparation but it still takes a lot of skill to do it.

Well Alpine for sure less drag, better deployment and Verstappen struggled on corner exit which exaggerated the overtaking issue. I'd say with roles reversed Verstappen might pull away a few tenths each lap

[FittingMechanics]

Max should spend a day reading this very forum to understand what he should do to overtake (because he clearly still has no idea), especially the slower car, instead of constantly wasting his time sim racing.

So at the same time people on this forum are saying the overtakes are too easy but then Max cannot overtake a slower car? Are the overtakes too hard? Is Max bad at overtaking (doubt it)?

This was the point of the regulation. This is the reason there is a 8MJ recharge limit. If it was higher and battery was larger you would just have hybrids running full power most of the lap and none of these tactical aspects would be there.

I know you don't like it, but it is not what is wrong, this was the plan all along.

To me the problem is the need for cars to harvest at end of straights or through fast corners (on throttle). If this didn't exist the rules would be much better.

[avantman]

Max should spend a day reading this very forum to understand what he should do to overtake (because he clearly still has no idea), especially the slower car, instead of constantly wasting his time sim racing.

So at the same time people on this forum are saying the overtakes are too easy but then Max cannot overtake a slower car? Are the overtakes too hard? Is Max bad at overtaking (doubt it)?

This was the point of the regulation. This is the reason there is a 8MJ recharge limit. If it was higher and battery was larger you would just have hybrids running full power most of the lap and none of these tactical aspects would be there.

I know you don't like it, but it is not what is wrong, this was the plan all along.

Sorry, could you formulate again, what was the point of regulation?

[FittingMechanics]

Sorry, could you formulate again, what was the point of regulation?

To allow tactical use of energy and help with overtakes. If they wanted hybrids that have power throughout the lap they wouldn't formulate rules which give you 22 seconds of full electrical power per lap.

[Gillian]

Sorry, could you formulate again, what was the point of regulation?

To allow tactical use of energy and help with overtakes. If they wanted hybrids that have power throughout the lap they wouldn't formulate rules which give you 22 seconds of full electrical power per lap.

This is not correct. What you see is oversight while changing rules for a certain manufacturer, not a deliberate design.

[FittingMechanics]

This is not correct. What you see is oversight while changing rules for a certain manufacturer, not a deliberate design.

If I, a casual fan could see this and predict it (and many others), then it is not an oversight. That is just silly to think. This was one of intended consequences.

[Gillian]

This is not correct. What you see is oversight while changing rules for a certain manufacturer, not a deliberate design.

If I, a casual fan could see this and predict it (and many others), then it is not an oversight. That is just silly to think. This was one of intended consequences.

I don't believe that, but let's agree to disagree. Getting offtopic now

[gandharva]

I don't believe that, but let's agree to disagree. Getting offtopic now

Nothing to "believe" here. He simply is confusing an engineering constraint with intentional race and rule design.