Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo set to reunite at spectacular Red Bull launch

Former F1 team-mates Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo are set to reunite as Red Bull kicks off its season at a launch event later this week.

Red Bull enters a new era this year as it fields its own in-house-built power unit for the first time in its history.

The Milton Keynes-based squad has built the new engine in collaboration with Ford, and to further celebrate the partnership, the Red Bull and Racing Bulls teams will showcase their 2026 liveries from Detroit this Thursday.

Verstappen is hoping to add to his jam-packed trophy cabinet this year as he hunts for a fifth F1 title, having narrowly missed out on championship success last year to Lando Norris.

The Dutchman has a new team-mate alongside him this year in Isack Hadjar, who has been promoted following a strong rookie campaign at Racing Bulls.

However, a former team-mate of Verstappen is set to be present at the launch of the 2026 livery, with Ford listing Daniel Ricciardo as a guest of the event.

Ricciardo spent five seasons at Red Bull, three of which he was partnered with Verstappen.

Since departing the F1 grid in 2024, Ricciardo has largely kept a low profile. Last September, he announced he had become a global ambassador of Ford Racing after confirming his retirement from racing.

F1 fans are now likely to have a rare glimpse of the Australian at the Red Bull launch event, which is set to get underway at 7 PM local time.

Other special guests, according to Ford, include three-time NASCAR champion Joey Logano and five-time Formula Drift champion James Deane.