F1: Oracle Red Bull Racing And Racing Bulls Unveil Bold 2026 Liveries In Detroit

Oracle Red Bull Racing and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls joined together on Thursday, January 15 in Detroit to unveil their bold, new liveries ahead of the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship season. The launch brought together stars from motorsport, film, and music on stage at the iconic Michigan Central Station.

The 2026 F1 season marks a new era for motorsport as sweeping technical regulation changes come into effect. Ford will partner with Red Bull to debut Red Bull Ford Powertrains, with the team building both the chassis and power unit under the same roof for the first time.

Oliver Mintzlaff, CEO of Corporate Projects and New Investments of Red Bull GmbH, said: "This is a new chapter for us. Building our own engine and bringing it to life on track is a remarkable step for our brand. We're optimistic and truly excited to go live with our car and our power unit. There will be significant regulatory changes in 2026. Yes, the power unit is a major part of that, but there are many other elements as well. We took a similar risk when we entered Formula One back in 2005, and that mindset hasn't changed."

Ben Hodgkinson, Red Bull Powertrains Technical Director, said: "It's a bold and audacious project. This is about being masters of our own destiny. From the very beginning, we wanted it to be a Red Bull chassis and power unit, developed together in harmony."

Drivers Max Verstappen, Isack Hadjar, Liam Lawson and rookie Arvid Lindblad were joined by Oracle Red Bull Racing Team Principal Laurent Mekies and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Team Principal Alan Permane as well as F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and Ford CEO Jim Farley.

Hosted by sportscaster Nicole Briscoe alongside actor Dax Shepard and Ruby Ukairo, with music from Detroit rapper Big Sean, the event showcased both teams’ striking new liveries.

The reveal followed an opening Ford and Red Bull presentation, which featured a live link with Hodgkinson, including the first-ever live broadcast reveal of a power unit using Apple Vision Pro.

Oracle Red Bull Racing then electrified the crowd with a dramatic filmed segment featuring 2018 Red Bull Air Race World Champion Martin Šonka, who used the tail hook of his aircraft to whip away a cover and reveal the team’s new livery, before attention returned to the car on stage for an up-close look at the bold, glossy design.

Mekies said: "2026 marks the start of a new and significant era for Formula One and for Red Bull. We wanted our livery to reflect this, while also giving a nod to Red Bull Racing's beginnings. We are in F1 because of the dream of one man, Dietrich Mateschitz, and several years later, he had another dream, to create an engine. This livery is designed to celebrate that spirit that we entered the sport with. In the year that an Oracle Red Bull Racing car carries a Red Bull Ford Powertrains PU for the first time, it felt only right to reflect some of our history in our livery."

Four-time world champion Verstappen, 28, said: "First of all, everyone is very excited. The colours have changed a little bit. It is much better. I like the shine, blue is my favourite colour. I like the outlines on the Red Bull logo. It is back and much more fresh. It is all still a bit unknown with the engine and the dimension of the car has changed a bit. For us drivers, initially it will take a bit of time to adjust and important on test days to get our laps in and optimise as much as possible. It is always better to have an ending like that (2025) and everybody is excited to start a new chapter."

New teammate Hadjar, 21, added: "It is a bit unreal for me. I have always dreamed of driving for this team. As a kid watching TV, I saw Vettel winning all those titles. I am finally in the big team. It is a real privilege to be part of Oracle Red Bull Racing and be next to Max. I love the front wing and gloss as during night races it will stand out. I am fully adapted and in the rhythm. A maiden race win would be good."

The Racing Bulls unveiling happened on stage next with New Zealander Lawson, who finished 2025 off strongly with five top-10 finishes in the second half of the season, and 18-year-old Briton Lindblad pulling the silk off to highlight the all-white look, enhanced with sleek blue accents now tracing the contours of the chassis - elevating the design with a sharper, more streamlined finish.

Lindblad will be the youngest and only rookie on the Formula One grid this year after a strong progression through the Red Bull Junior Programme, impressing across the junior single-seater ranks.

Lawson, 23, said: "I love white. We have more blue and obviously Ford on the back now, which looks really, really good. I am excited. It is obviously going to be a very different season and new opportunities. Firstly, we need to see how fast the car is. It looks fast, so hopefully it is fast on track. I am looking forward to it."

CEO Peter Bayer said: "This launch captures the evolution of Visa Cash App Racing Bulls as a brand and as a racing team. From having Detroit as a backdrop representing our partnership with Ford, to the creators, fans and communities we've brought into this launch, everything reflects our ambition to stand for being a culture-first team."

Team Principal Permane added: "2026 represents one of the biggest technical changes Formula One has seen, and partnering with Ford at the very start of this journey is hugely significant for us. The Red Bull Ford Powertrains project brings together world-class engineering, innovation and racing DNA, and it puts us in a strong position as the sport enters this new era."

Set against the majestic architecture of the historic location, the new project encapsulates the Red Bull spirit, that has defied convention since it first took to the track 21 years ago.

With over 125 years of heritage, innovation, and absolute dedication to performance, Ford helps bring together pioneering global brands united by a love of racing and a commitment to pushing boundaries.