British teenager Arvid Lindblad hailed a “surreal moment” as his rookie Racing Bulls team unveiled their livery for the 2026 F1 season.
The 18-year-old, who drives alongside Liam Lawson, was officially introduced as an F1 driver when Racing Bulls unveiled a new look for next season, which included adding blue to the VCARB 03 in honor of new partner Ford.
The Racing Bulls’ 2026 engines will be supplied by Red Bull Powertrain (senior team Red Bull’s newly formed engine division), which will partner with Ford to produce power units for the first time, in line with the introduction of new regulations for both power units and chassis.
The team unveiled the livery alongside Red Bull in Ford’s hometown of Detroit, marking the first reveal of the 2026 launch season.
At a glitzy event at Michigan Central Station, Detroit musician Big Sean introduced the vehicle with a custom 60-second rap.
Racing Bulls said: “The team has chosen to maintain an all-white look as a subtle homage to our partnership with Ford. Sophisticated blue accents trace the contours of the chassis and enhance the design with a sharper, more streamlined finish.”
Lindblad made an incredible rise in the junior ranks and quickly secured a seat in F1, with predictions that he would be on the grid against Lando Norris, who was crowned the new world champion five years ago, come true.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Racing Bulls’ new driver Arvid Lindblad has his sights set on his first F1 season after being promoted from F2.
Lindblad said: “This moment is honestly surreal. To be introduced as an F1 driver at an event like this, in such iconic surroundings, is something I’ll never forget.”
“The vision of the team, the new power unit and the belief they have shown me means a lot. I am ready to learn, work and get everything back on track as we begin this new chapter together.”
Racing Bulls in ‘strong position’ as new F1 era begins
Racing Bulls will be looking to build on their successful 2025 season, which saw them finish sixth in the Constructors’ Championship. This matches the best result the team has managed since it was founded in 2006 as Toro Rosso, then became AlphaTauri, then RB and last year was named Racing Bulls.
The team will face the same challenges as Red Bull attempting to compete using an engine provided by a debut manufacturer, but remains positive about its outlook for next season, which begins with the Australian Grand Prix on March 8.
Racing Bulls team principal Alan Perman said: “2026 represents one of the biggest technological changes for Formula 1 and it’s hugely important for us to partner with Ford at the start of this journey.”
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
On the F1 Show podcast, Karun Chandhok, Bernie Collins and Ted Kravitz discuss their expectations for the 2026 season, which features new regulations.
“The Red Bull Ford Powertrain Project brings together world-class engineering, innovation and racing DNA, putting us in a strong position as we enter this new era for the sport.
“We have been working closely together and are proud of what the Red Bull family has developed. We are excited to be able to put it into our race cars as we head to the track in the coming weeks.”
The 23-year-old New Zealander started alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull last season and is looking to re-establish himself before being demoted to Racing Bulls after just two races.
Lawson said: “The partnership between Ford and Red Bull, the energy surrounding the team and the ambition for the future makes it an incredibly exciting time to be part of VCARB. I am more motivated than ever to move forward and help translate that vision into on-track results.”
When does F1 pre-season testing take place?
With the introduction of new regulations, a strong schedule of three separate test events is planned before the start of the 2026 season.
The first test will take place behind closed doors in Barcelona from January 26th to 30th, followed by two more tests in Bahrain from February 11th to 13th and 18th to 20th.
When was your first F1 race?
The team will then have two weeks to prepare for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne from March 6th to 8th.
The first practice session of the season will take place on Friday, March 6th, followed by qualifying on Saturday, March 7th and the opening race on Sunday, March 8th.
Sky Sports F1 lets you watch all 24 race weekends of the 2026 F1 season live. Stream Sky Sports now – cancel anytime with no contract
