F1 | Red Bull RB22 first look: showcar or more? Two hidden details revealed
In Detroit, Red Bull unveiled its livery for the 2026 Formula 1 season, but there’s more to the presentation than just colors: here’s our first analysis of the RB22 from the official renders. Was it merely a showcar, or a first glimpse of the real RB22? The Milton Keynes-based team showcased a refreshed livery, featuring a deeper blue designed to stand out in night races. The star of the evening was also the power unit, which the team is keeping partially under wraps while confidently claiming it operates “at the limits of the regulations.” But what about the car itself?
The 2026 season officially kicks off in Detroit, where Red Bull and Racing Bulls revealed their respective liveries. Following the Audi filming day that surprised the paddock, the Milton Keynes and Faenza cars are the first to be shown in a traditional setting. The event also highlighted the new partnership with Ford, which is heavily involved in the development of the much-discussed power unit, among other elements.
The show did not place special emphasis on the car itself. As widely understood, to see an accurate representation of the new cars’ aerodynamic surfaces, fans will have to wait for Bahrain. What attendees saw in Detroit was effectively a showcar. However, from the renders released afterwards, more details start to emerge.
RB22 details: front pushrod and rearward cockpit
In the images shared on Red Bull’s official channels, the first genuine independent interpretation of the 2026 regulations can be glimpsed. These are no longer the sparse forms seen in FIA and Formula 1 renders, but a realistic early take on the aerodynamic packaging. Immediately noticeable are the slimmer sidepods, suggesting more detailed work on the edges of the floor.
Clear evolution is also visible on both the front and rear wings, with changes to the endplates, and on the front floor plate, divided into three elements. According to The Race, the two details most likely to carry over to the actual RB22 are the rearward position of the cockpit and the adoption of a front pushrod suspension.
The Detroit launch served as a strategic “smoke screen,” allowing Red Bull to satisfy commercial partners like Ford while keeping their true aerodynamic innovations for the RB22 under wraps. By showcasing a glossy, heritage-inspired livery on a generic chassis, the team successfully diverted attention away from the “very limit” compression ratio controversy surrounding their new Power Unit. However, the subtle details in the official renders—specifically the move to a front push-rod suspension and the rearward shift of the cockpit—confirm that Red Bull is not merely evolving their current concept, but is radically re-packaging the car to maximize the efficiency of the new active aerodynamics coming in 2026.
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