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Racing Bulls’ shakedown at Imola gave us the best look yet at a real 2026 Formula 1 car. Here’s everything Gary Anderson deduced from it
It’s exciting to witness the 2026 Formula 1 cars in action on the track, with Racing Bulls being the latest team to showcase their car during a shakedown. This provides us with a clearer view of the technical aspects of the car, facilitating more in-depth analysis. Racing Bulls has reverted to its role as a Red Bull junior driver stepping-stone, aiming to groom talents like Isack Hadjar, following the paths of Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.
With speculation surrounding Verstappen potentially leaving, Red Bull must ensure that drivers like Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad have a competitive car in the VCARB 03 to strengthen their case for promotion. The DM01 power unit, developed by Red Bull Powertrains, made its on-track debut at Imola, with visible Ford technical involvement limited to a small logo. The new car design features pushrod-operated front suspension with reduced anti-dive, reflecting a shift towards increased ride height and rake for improved aerodynamics.
The augmented rake aims to enhance underfloor downforce during braking, potentially optimizing the entire car’s aerodynamics. The multi-link suspension system, highlighted in white, could significantly impact kingpin and camber angles, offering potential benefits in tire contact patch optimization. A comparison of the 2025 and 2026 Racing Bulls front suspensions reveals changes in design elements like anti-dive reduction and shift from pullrod to pushrod operation.
The new front wing endplate positioning and revised three-element wing design hint at aerodynamic advancements and potential vulnerabilities in the lower tray section. While the updated front wing assembly features fewer slot gaps, prompting teams to adjust to reduced flap angles for improved performance. Overall, the pushrod-operated rear suspension and other design refinements signal an exciting evolution in Racing Bulls’ technical approach for the 2026 season.
