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.
FERNANDO ALONSO CONFIRMS ZERO PERFORMANCE UPGRADES FOR ASTON MARTIN BEFORE SUMMER BREAK
Fernando Alonso warns fans of zero performance upgrades for Aston Martin until autumn as cockpit vibrations ruin race pace.
Fernando Alonso doesn’t see things getting any better for Aston Martin until the back half of the season. The start of their 2026 F1 run has been downright rough.
Their fresh partnership with Honda just isn’t clicking. Both drivers can’t get out of Q1 in qualifying, and points? Forget it. After four rounds, Aston Martin and Cadillac are stuck at the bottom of the standings with zero points.
It’s not just a lack of speed, either. Alonso and Lance Stroll have been fighting nasty car vibrations all year, so bad that team boss Adrian Newey said after Australia, both drivers were worried about permanent nerve damage in their hands and feet.
Miami didn’t offer any relief. Alonso and Stroll both finished a lap down, 15th and 17th. At 44, Alonso accepts this might be the new normal for a while.
When someone asked if Canada might bring some improvement, Alonso shut it down quickly. "No. Maybe we’ll get a little better on drivability, but not on performance," he said. "We just have to stick together. It’s going to be a tough race.”
He knows these weekends will get repetitive. "We have to face the media every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday," he said, and when a journalist apologised, Alonso just shrugged it off: "You’re just doing your job. We drive fast, but the message is the same every week."
Aston Martin doesn’t have upgrades coming until after summer break. Alonso expects Canada and Austria to look just like Miami, and keeping everyone’s frustration in check is the new challenge. Still, he figures the team is staying calm and focused on having a stronger finish to the season.
Looking further ahead, Alonso said last month he’s open to sticking around F1 after his current contract ends. The two-time world champion, who took his titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006, will be close to 450 grands prix by the end of this season.
GEORGE RUSSELL ADMITS ANTONELLI IS "EXCEPTIONALLY QUICK" BUT REFUSES TO CONCEDE TITLE
Kimi Antonelli secured his 3rd straight F1 win in Miami, leaving George Russell 43 seconds behind and 20 points down in the title race. (130 chars)
George Russell isn’t flinching. He’s not ready to let go of the story, even as Kimi Antonelli keeps grabbing headlines. Antonelli’s been tearing it up this season – three straight wins, all from pole – and it’s got people talking. Miami was rough for Russell; he finished fourth, over 43 seconds behind Antonelli. That gap isn’t just big; it’s glaring, and it’s putting some real heat on their rivalry at Mercedes.
Russell isn’t pretending things are fine, but he’s not throwing in the towel either. He gets what Antonelli’s doing and gives props where they’re deserved. “He’s a fantastic driver, and he’s been fast since day one,” Russell said. “You don’t win all those championships as a kid if you’re not quick.” He means it, but he’s also drawing a boundary. Russell still believes in himself, and he’s not giving up on the championship.
“I’ve still got confidence in myself, and I haven’t forgotten how to drive,” he said with a little smile. “It’s just a tricky patch, but we’re only four races in; there’s a lot more to come. We’ll sort things out over the next few weeks.”
That “tricky patch” doesn’t just mean some tough luck; it includes a 20-point deficit and a teammate who won’t stop rewriting history. Antonelli’s winning streak has changed the vibe at Mercedes, at least for now.
Russell knows all about momentum and how it doesn’t always stick around. “He’s got momentum right now; he’s flying,” Russell admitted. “But I’ve won championships myself, and I know momentum swings back and forth all year.” He actually doesn’t seem bothered by the points gap. “Honestly, I’m not even thinking about it,” he said.
It’s a calm answer from a guy who’s been here before, leaning on experience while Antonelli rides his hot streak. Russell keeps saying 'big picture, patience, not panic'.
“I just want to get back on top of the podium,” he said. “I had the pace for the first three races, but this weekend I was nowhere close. It could have gone very differently these last few weeks, and this weekend could’ve just been a blip. But some races in Japan and China didn’t go my way. That’s how F1 goes sometimes.”
Still, confidence doesn’t erase a 20-point gap, not if Antonelli keeps cruising. If Antonelli keeps piling up wins, Russell’s going to have to fight more than just the stopwatch. Losing to your teammate over and over starts to mess with your head. Russell began the season as the guy to beat, but the longer this keeps up, the tougher it gets to grab hold of the story again.
He’s holding firm, for now. But F1 doesn’t wait for anyone. What does Russell call “just a tricky run”? Well, if momentum doesn’t swing his way soon, it could become a whole lot more than that.
