Red Bull is expected to be ‘agressive’ from Barcelona and beyond
Red Bull will have a different approach compared to rivals in pre-season testing. The team is ready to execute a long-planned programme if the data reveals the expected results.
Image: @REDBULLCONTENTPOOL
According to RacingNews365 — Dutch media — Red Bull is expected to present a relatively advanced chassis of the RB22 at the pre-season tests in Barcelona. The team will present a fairly definitive and aerodynamically advanced first version of the new car.
The team will continue to develop parts on a limited basis during the upcoming tests in Bahrain, if the wind tunnel and track data correlate after testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The first concept of the car will be the benchmark for future updates planned for the first half of the season, they key to a long-planned strategy.
Red Bull hypothesises — or rather believes — that it will be reachable to compensate for any power and/or battery deficits it may encounter with aerodynamic innovation. This approach is nothing new for the Austrian team. In Milton Kenyes, they are committed to the continuous evolution of the RB22 from pre-season testing to mid-season.
Image: @REDBULLRACING
For months, the team's management has been intensively recruiting specialised personnel for the aerodynamics department, from aerodynamic performance experts to data specialists, among others. Journalist Jorge Peiró, who in December 2025 reported the exclusive story about Audi's filming day on 9 January, has also confirmed to me that Red Bull “has signed up a lot of people from Mercedes”. He added that “they could have taken advantage, but to a lesser extent, of the engine compression trick”. This reason, if analysed carefully, could be directly related to the new recruitment campaign: Red Bull wants to exploit the aerodynamic factor.
This could be the reason why the Austrian team wants to prove once again that aerodynamic refinement can be a success, rather than thinking that F1 in 2026 will be dominated by power units. This competitive advantage in an area where teams will face problems with engines and active aerodynamics could give them a performance edge over their rivals. Aerodynamic innovation is nothing new at Milton Keynes, as it is something they have experimented with in the past.
The forecast could suggest that Red Bull might be in a bad position at the start of the new regulations, as programme’s plans changed midway through last season to invest more sources in the fight for the title.
According to LastWordOnSports, at the end of 2021 Red Bull was expected to start the ground-effect era behind Mercedes, which began to work on the new rules before its main competitor. Despite this, RB18’s concept, worked later compared to other teams, became the key of the team’s second golden era and Max Verstappen’s kingdom for next years.
Image: @SKYSPORTS
Red Bull’s planned strategy is also no guarantee of succes, it won’t be proved if an intensive program is needed for 2026 and beyond until new cars hit the track and team gathers all data. Formula 1 could give them a glimpse of reality and maybe enlarge issues previously unexpected. There is a precedent from 2024 and 2025 as there were struggles with the understanding of car’s concept, overshadowed by Max Verstappen’s hands. A dominant period was concluded with doubts.
Image: @F1
Opting for a more ‘agressive’ strategy in terms of development might sound contradictory after all, as a lack of performance at the beginning of 2026 could trigger an altercation in Verstappen’s future and a more than likely second approach from Mercedes for a potential signing ahead of 2027.
Brief conclusion: Red Bull may be aware of upcoming issues with the new power unit, as the’ve been focused on those new signings for the aerodynamics department. If we look back over the years, this team has proven several times and seasons they are able to manufacture a winning-car without the most powerful engine, but doubts have emerged in the last two seasons. Red Bull have also invested many resources in the last title fight, even though this was not a problem in 2022, there is no guarantee we’ll see the same outcome in 2026. There is no Adrian Newey since 2024, so Pierre Waché and his peers are under their biggest challenge of their journeys.
The RB22 has to convince Max Verstappen to stay longer in the team to fulfil his contract until the end of 2028. Otherwise, Toto Wolff’s office will gladly welcome the Dutch driver and put a contract to be signed on the table.
