Red Bull RB22 Specs & Facts

Verstappen Explains Why Red Bull Isn't Ready to Win Yet

Max Verstappen driving the (3) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB22 Red Bull Ford on track during day three of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 13, 2026 (Photo by Joe Portlock/Getty Images)

Red Bull's F1 car for 2026

The Red Bull RB22 heralded a new era for both Red Bull Racing and Formula 1, arriving under the most sweeping technical regulation changes the sport had seen in a generation. The 2026 rules introduced a completely new aerodynamic philosophy alongside revolutionary power unit regulations, presenting every team with a clean-sheet design challenge.

The most significant change for Red Bull came in the power unit department. Following the conclusion of their RBPTH002 programme, Red Bull Powertrains partnered with Ford Motor Company to develop the RBPTH003, Red Bull's 2026-specification power unit. The Ford partnership, announced in 2023, marked Ford's return to Formula 1 as a power unit partner for the first time since the V8 era, bringing substantial investment and engineering resource to Red Bull's in-house programme.

The 2026 power unit regulations brought fundamental changes to the hybrid architecture. The Motor Generator Unit-Heat (MGU-H) was eliminated, while the MGU-K was dramatically uprated to deliver approximately 350 kilowatts, nearly three times its predecessor's output. This created a near-equal split between combustion and electrical power, fundamentally altering how power is managed and deployed throughout a lap.

On the aerodynamic side, the RB22 operates under regulations that replaced the traditional drag Reduction System with an active aerodynamic system. Both front and rear wings feature automated mechanisms that reduce drag on the straights while maximising downforce through high-speed corners, placing new demands on the car's electrical systems and the team's strategic approach.

Max Verstappen led Red Bull's 2026 campaign, targeting further championship success in this new regulatory era. The RB22 represented Red Bull's attempt to translate their ground-effect era expertise into Formula 1's next chapter, pairing their chassis engineering philosophy with the power of the new Ford-badged hybrid power unit.

Red Bull RB22 Technical Specifications

  • Chassis: Carbon fibre composite monocoque
  • Halo cockpit protection device
  • Red Bull Powertrains gearbox with 8 forward gears + reverse
  • Multiplate carbon clutch
  • Active front and rear aerodynamic wings
  • Carbon fibre brake discs (Brembo)
  • Weight: 800 kg minimum (including driver)
  • Wheels: 18-inch Pirelli front and rear

Power unit

Name: Red Bull Ford Powertrains RBPTH003 / Cubic capacity: 1600 cc / Configuration: 90° V6 / Maximum RPM: 15,000 / Supercharging: Single turbocharger / Fuel injection: Direct, max 500 bar

ERS System

Hybrid energy recovery system (MGU-K only, no MGU-H) / Lithium-ion battery / Maximum energy capacity: 8.5 MJ / MGU-K maximum power: ~350 kW / MGU-K maximum speed: 50,000 rpm

Latest News about the Red Bull RB22 F1 car

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