Liam Lawson gets a bargeboard upgrade in Australia as Racing Bulls pivot away from F1’s inwash aims

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Racing Bulls have unveiled a new bargeboard ahead of the 2026 F1 Australian Grand Prix, as Liam Lawson’s team strive to increase the outwash effect with their new car.

The 2026 F1 season kicks off this weekend in Melbourne, with Lawson also starting a year as a Racing Bulls racer for the first time. Lawson, 24, will partner with 18-year-old British rookie Arvid Lindblad, as Isack Hadjar has stepped up to Red Bull to replace Yuki Tsunoda this term.

Lawson admits that he is not “100%” ready for the 2026 season, as the Kiwi and Racing Bulls are still adjusting to the biggest regulatory overhaul in F1 history. The 2026 regulations have yielded new engines with more electrical power, as well as new chassis, aero and tyre rules.

The new engine rules acted as the foundation of the 2026 F1 regulations, with power units now boasting a near 50/50 share between electrical and combustion power. F1 and the FIA also sought to improve the show with better racing through the new aero and chassis rules.

What do you expect from Liam Lawson in the 2026 F1 season?

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Racing Bulls have unveiled a bargeboard upgrade designed to increase the outwash effect

One of the ways that F1 and the FIA have sought to improve the racing in 2026 was through the bargeboard designs, which they hoped would increase the inwash effect. Yet McLaren’s bargeboards in pre-season testing immediately created questions about the outwash effect.

READ MORE: All you need to know about the 2026 F1 season, from the calendar to drivers

Now, Motorsport.com reports that Racing Bulls have revealed a new bargeboard concept in Melbourne. The Faenza team’s intention with the bargeboard update is to pivot away from F1’s inwash aims, thus guiding the airflow behind the front tyres away from their VCARB 03.

Racing Bulls have been working on their sidepod update since the Barcelona shakedown in January, having realised there is more scope within the 2026 F1 regulations to clean up the wake created from the front tyres. Now, Racing Bulls’ update is ready for the Australian GP.

The three, lower horizontal elements of Racing Bulls’ bargeboard are unchanged from their concept used at the two Bahrain tests. But the Faenza outfit have modified the vertical part to try to push more of the airflow outwards, and not disrupt the airflow on their sidepods.

Racing Bulls could have one of the best midfield cars under the 2026 F1 regulations

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F1 teams are expected to reveal upgrades at a rapid rate through potentially the first half of the 2026 season, as they adjust and discover more ways they can find speed under the new regulations. Also, the teams will likely see bargeboards as one of the main areas to develop.

While bargeboards are not as extravagant as they were before the start of the ground-effect era in 2022, F1 has given teams more creative freedom under the 2026 regulations than the ground-effect ruleset allowed. So, fans can expect to regularly see teams reveal new ideas.

Racing Bulls’ 2026 F1 car has already earned praise, with many in the paddock expecting the VCARB 03 to be one of the top midfield packages this year. Racing Bulls will need Lawson to make the most from their car, as he now adopts the role of team leader alongside Lindblad.