By Duniya Jan
Team RB’s Hopes for 2026
2025 certainly ended on a high for Racing Bulls. The team’s 6th place finish in the Constructors’ Championship is their joint-best in history, which definitely came as a surprise considering the turbulence Racing Bulls battled with early in the season. The combination of Liam Lawson’s unexpected demotion from Red Bull alongside the inexperience of rookie Isack Hadjar led many to have low expectations for Red Bull’s sister team. Yet, despite flashes of inexperience showing during the season – it is difficult to forget the catastrophic Silverstone Grand Prix – the young drivers surpassed all expectations, with the stellar Hadjar even attaining his maiden podium in the Netherlands. Hadjar in particular enjoyed a remarkable season, earning both the ‘Rookie of the Year’ title and a promotion to Red Bull. Liam Lawson also made some progress, embracing a career-high P5 in Azerbaijan and landing himself a renewed contract for the 2026 season. Joining him at Racing Bulls will be the youngest ever Formula 3 and Formula 2 champion Arvid Lindblad, ready to make his mark in Formula 1. So, what are the team’s hopes for 2026?
With the new regulations being implemented this year, a clean slate has been provided for all competitors. This makes it difficult to ascertain how teams will perform; although Mercedes are tipped for the 2026 Constructors, the direction of the season is impossible to predict.
While a Constructors’ Championship is undoubtedly off the table for mid-table Racing Bulls, the new and improved rules could certainly encourage them to outperform Williams and other close competitors. Maintaining the team’s steady increase in points and positions in the last couple of years should be a central focus, with new and lauded Team Principal Alan Permane likely hoping to guide the Australian-British driving duo to a team-best 5th place finish. This could, however, prove tricky for a number of reasons. Williams finished a sizable 45 points clear of Racing Bulls in 2025, with Aston Martin trailing by a mere 3 points. Haas also followed close behind the Racing Bulls by 12 points. If a clean slate improves the chances of one team, it improves the chances of all, potentially putting Racing Bulls in a difficult campaign to maintain or surpass their 2025 finishing position.
In terms of the drivers’ personal goals, Lawson has a tough season ahead of him. The new season requires him to become a reliable senior driver as Lindblad navigates the complexities of being the sole rookie – no, we’re not counting Cadillac here – in the 2026 starting lineup. With an aggressive driving style and a tendency to crash into other drivers, Lawson’s performance still needs significant improvement, especially given Racing Bull’s alarming turnover rate in recent years.
As for Lindblad, a splashy debut is likely on the cards for the 18 year old. His history in the lower formulae combined with his smooth and speedy driving style makes him an asset to Racing Bulls, with many fans expecting him to match or even surpass the bar set by his predecessor Hadjar.
Regardless of Racing Bulls’ various personal and team-wide aims, consistency will be key in maintaining – and perhaps even surpassing – their praiseworthy 2025 season. New management and fresh talent should assist in achieving this: should the drivers find their stride, a team-best finish is certainly within reach.
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