Red Bull surprise with aggressive design for Max Verstappen

Ahead of its on-track debut on Monday in Barcelona, Red Bull shared the first real images of its 2026 F1 challenger, the RB22.

The car was driven on the track by Isack Hadjar, with Max Verstappen due to jump behind the wheel later in the week.

Verstappen will be hoping the car gives him an opportunity to fight for a fifth F1 title after narrowly missing out on the championship last year to Lando Norris.

The fresh images of the RB22 challenger already show clear differences from the first renders of the car that were revealed at its launch event earlier this month. 

The most noticeable changes relate to the sidepods and side protection next to the cockpit. 

In particular, it can be seen that the volumes of the sidepods, especially at the rear, have been greatly reduced, creating a distinct 'coke bottle' shape. This is particularly beneficial for guiding airflow towards the rear of the car.

To achieve this, an internal aerodynamic layout with a multi-layer placement of radiators and heat exchangers has clearly been chosen. 

This is a concept that Red Bull has previously applied to the RB20, albeit with varying results. 

Also of particular interest is the air guidance integrated into the rather large cockpit protection area, shaped as a mini-bazooka. The rear opening blows air into the same area where Ferrari has the by-pass duct.

In addition, it is noteworthy that these additional, forward-facing openings have allowed the power unit's airbox to remain relatively compact, despite being larger than 2025. 

It is, however, smaller than that of sister team Racing Bulls.

Based on the first images from Barcelona, it seems likely that not only Red Bull, but also other teams will introduce new parts in the coming days and during testing in Bahrain. 

Still, the Red Bull already looks like a car with very elaborate characteristics in several areas, so future updates are unlikely to change the overall picture drastically.