By Laura Juliana Florez Alba
The return of the Bulls: Is Red Bull Racing officially back?
Oracle Red Bull Racing has long been a dominant force in Formula 1, but the 2026 season ushered in a new era of uncertainty.
The start of the year was brutal. The team struggled immensely to optimize their new engine and aerodynamically adapt the RB22 chassis, leaving them fighting in the midfield against the likes of Alpine.
The RB22’s turning point
The turning point for Red Bull’s 2026 campaign arrived in the form of a massive upgrade package. The resurgence became undeniable when Max Verstappen secured a dominant victory in Sepang. He then followed it up with a long awaited maiden triumph at the Singapore Grand Prix.
With two victories in the last three races and a razor-thin 0.196 second deficit in Baku, the RB22 has proven it can fight at the very front once again.
Verstappen himself noted that the car is now much more predictable, driving exactly how he needs it to in order to battle for race wins.
Singapore success and a bizarre radio masterclass
Verstappen’s victory in Singapore wasn’t just a testament to the car’s renewed pace, it was a showcase of exceptional teamwork. Late in the race, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was hunting Verstappen down on fresh soft tyres while the Dutchman was managing medium compounds.
A potential Virtual Safety Car threatened to complicate matters, requiring a critical pit stop decision. The catch? Verstappen’s team radio was broken. In a stroke of genius, race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase devised a workaround: “If you agree to pit and finish behind Leclerc, don’t say anything. If you don’t want to pit, speak on the radio. Try to say something”.
Verstappen remained utterly silent, accepting the strategy. Fortunately, the VSC never materialized, allowing the driver to hold onto his tyres and secure his first ever win at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
Looking ahead to 2027
Despite this incredible resurgence, the slow start to the 2026 campaign means the World Championship is likely out of reach. Verstappen currently sits just eight points behind Lewis Hamilton and 17 behind George Rusell. While finishing as the championship runner up is a highly realistic prospect, the four time world champion remains unfazed by the idea of finishing second or third.
While the 2026 title might be a lost cause, Verstappen emphasized that every single major upgrade introduced this year has worked flawlessly, a stark contrast to rival teams that are still battling correlation issues.
Speaking of correlation, 2027 will bring another massive advantage to Milton Keynes with a brand new wind tunnel. While the initial design of the RB23 is already underway, this state of the art wind tunnel will be crucial for mid season upgrades next year.
If their current development rate is anything to go by, Red Bull isn’t just back, they are preparing to dominate the grid again.
