It’s estimated that the Red Bull and Mercedes engines will allow cars an advantage of up to 0.4s per lap on their rivals. Liam Lawson and teammate Arvid Lindblad at the unveiling of Racing Bulls' 2026 Formula One car, the VCARB03. Racing Bulls enter 2026 off the back of the team’s best season since entering the grid 20 years ago, when Red Bull purchased Minardi. Interestingly, Red Bull and Mercedes finished day one 2.030s and 1.493s faster than Alpine’s Franco Colapinto in third. However, if the Red Bull engine in particular will bring advantages this season, being at Racing Bulls could prove a masterstroke for Lawson.

Source: New Zealand Herald January 28, 2026 19:05 UTC