MEET THE RB22: A FIRST LOOK AT MAX VERSTAPPEN’S 2026 CHAMPIONSHIP CHALLENGER
Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar debuted the Ford-powered RB22. Analysis of the 2026 aero loophole and the "coke bottle" design.
Red Bull turned heads right away at the Barcelona shakedown, with Isack Hadjar setting the pace in what’s basically the real version of Max Verstappen’s 2026 car.
The team from Milton Keynes was one of seven that hit the track on day one of F1’s first pre-season test. Each team can pick any three out of the five days to run at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya during this private shakedown.
This year, Formula 1 is running a closed-door test at Montmelo so teams can iron out problems with their new cars before the season kicks off. The 2026 rules bring the biggest shake-up ever—new engines, new aero, new chassis, new tyres. Everything’s changing.
People in the paddock are already buzzing about Red Bull possibly exploiting a loophole in the 2026 engine regs, which could let them crank up combustion rates. But now, rival teams have spotted something else on the car.
Red Bull’s tiny sidepods in Barcelona have everyone scratching their heads.
According to SPEEDWEEK, rival teams are genuinely baffled by the sidepod design Red Bull rolled out on day one. The RB22 Hadjar looked a lot different from the early renders Red Bull showed off at their Detroit launch.
Testing lap times doesn’t tell you much, but those sidepods definitely got people talking. They’re way smaller than what Red Bull first teased, especially at the back of the car. The design is super narrow.
Looks like Red Bull found a clever way to arrange their radiators and heat exchangers, giving them more freedom to shape the bodywork for extra downforce in that “coke bottle” section—the slim bit between the floor and the engine cover.
Gary Anderson says this isn’t a ‘zero sidepod’ like Mercedes tried.
Some people are comparing Red Bull’s sidepods to Mercedes’ zero-pod concept from 2022. Mercedes gave up on that idea in 2023 because it just didn’t work. Gary Anderson, who used to be tech director at Jordan, doesn’t think Red Bull’s gone that extreme for 2026. But Red Bull kept the real look of Verstappen and Hadjar’s car under wraps at their launch.
Anderson told The Race, “If you compare Red Bull’s first renders to the studio photos, the sidepods are clearly smaller, and the upper surface is totally different. Is it a ‘zero sidepod’ solution? It’s smaller than most, sure, but not really zero. The radiator intake is about the same size as others we’ve seen.”
Verstappen got his first taste of the RB22 on Tuesday morning. Red Bull kept testing on day two in Barcelona, and Verstappen even brought out the first red flag after a little off-track excursion. No big deal—he got going again soon after.
SERGIO PEREZ BREAKS SILENCE ON CADILLAC’S FIRST FOUR RACES OF 2026 F1 SEASON
Discover why Sergio Perez is confident in Cadillac’s 2026 path despite urgent needs for better pace and reliability fixes.
Sergio Perez didn’t waste time sharing his thoughts on Cadillac after the first four races of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Cadillac shows up in 2026 as F1’s newest team, but honestly, not a lot of people expected fireworks right away. With veterans like Valtteri Bottas and Perez behind the wheel, the team’s start has been a mix, some moments full of promise, others derailed by reliability issues.
Still, Cadillac isn’t just stuck at the back. Lately, they’ve been right there fighting with Aston Martin and even managed to split them in Miami, which turned a few heads.
Perez knows the team is at risk of falling behind in this crazy-fast development race, though. “We still have work to do, but I’m confident we’re on the right path,” he told reporters, including Motorsport Week.
He added, “Sometimes, once tyre degradation sets in, we can hang with the midfield, but they always seem to find another gear. There’s a long way to go this season, but we’re in a rush to find more pace. We know Aston will get stronger, and we don’t want to be left behind.”
Racing Aston Martin has actually brought Perez some enjoyment. He especially likes battling Fernando Alonso, calling those fights fair and satisfying. Still, he pointed out a weak spot: “We’re having fun with them. Racing Fernando is always great because he’s so fair. But we struggled with tyre degradation; we burnt through them too quickly. We picked the hard compound, but honestly, looking back, I should’ve gone with the soft.”
He said there’s plenty to analyse, and really, the key is getting a better grip on their car as they look ahead to Canada. “We don’t have much time, but in the short term, we need to fix the degradation. We have some ideas, but putting them together is our biggest challenge in the next few weeks.”
Cadillac may be the new kid on the block and still finding its feet, but it’s already starting to make an impact. The road out of the lower ranks won’t be easy, but they’re moving in the right direction.
HOW KIMI ANTONELLI’S THREE-RACE WIN STREAK IS REDEFINING THE MERCEDES TEAM HIERARCHY
With a 43-second gap in Miami, Antonelli proves he’s ready to lead the World Championship. Can Russell bounce back in Canada?
David Coulthard, the former Formula 1 driver, recently pointed out that Kimi Antonelli might be on track to overtake George Russell as Mercedes’ team leader.
Antonelli has been on an impressive run, clinching victories in the last three races and pulling ahead by 20 points over his main competitor and teammate, Russell.
At the Miami race, the young Italian once again outperformed his more seasoned teammate, with Russell managing only fourth place, trailing by 43 seconds.
Coulthard acknowledged Antonelli’s rapid rise in 2026, which is just his second season in F1. He highlighted Antonelli’s strengths and suggested that the Italian is, in many ways, now leading the Mercedes team.
“He’s come of age,” Coulthard said during the Up To Speed podcast.
Despite being relatively new, Antonelli has shown resilience, dealing not only with the pressure from a driver like Lando ready to strike but also with technical glitches like inconsistent paddle shifts. Coulthard mentioned how Antonelli kept his cool even when his engineer, Bono, was trying to help troubleshoot the issue in a tense moment.
“I think he’s earned the right to lead the World Championship,” Coulthard added, noting that this situation probably feels uncomfortable for George. Still, the expectations now lean heavily toward Antonelli leading the team, especially based on recent results.
Coulthard also pointed out that Russell has the experience and skill to reclaim his position as the team’s lead driver, but emphasised that only one can come out on top; someone must finish first and the other second.
The rivalry between them might start opening doors for other teams. Coulthard noted that improvements from McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull were already noticeable, especially in Miami.
“Winning in the best car isn’t always straightforward. Many have tried and struggled,” he said.
For Russell, who is feeling the weight of this momentum shift, the upcoming race in Canada will be crucial if he wants to close the gap and halt Antonelli’s winning streak.
