Liam Lawson’s 2026 F1 car features one concept that experts ‘never’ thought they’d see again

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Racing Bulls took to the track for the first time with their 2026 F1 car on Tuesday. Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad were in action at Imola.

Racing Bulls were one of the first teams to reveal their livery for 2026, appearing just after sister team Red Bull at a Ford event in Detroit last week.

But it was Lawson and Lindblad who had the honour of completing the first laps with the Red Bull power unit. They’re expected to hold a more comprehensive shakedown on Friday at the former Emilia Romagna GP venue.

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Racing Bulls had some difficulty firing up the Red Bull engine, but perhaps this was to be expected. Lindblad, the only rookie in 2026, beached the car in the gravel after a spin in wet conditions.

Racing Bulls’ rake catches the eye after first 2026 laps

Both Red Bull and Racing Bulls displayed their 2026 colour schemes on a show car in Detroit, so this was the first opportunity for photographers to get a shot of their aerodynamics. A couple of features immediately stood out.

As noted by Motorsport Italia, the shape of the floor promotes an outwash effect, which will ‘contaminate the air of the cars behind’. One of the main goals of these regulations is to promote closer racing, but that’s not the priority for aerodynamicists.

The car’s raked set-up is even more eye-catching. Experts had predicted this concept would ‘never’ be seen again after it was effectively outlawed in 2022, but they were wrong.

Karun Chandhok immediately noticed Racing Bulls’ rear rake when the first photos of the car on track emerged. The VCARB03 is effectively tilted forward, an aggressive posture.

Overall, Motorsport IT conclude that the design isn’t especially ‘radical’, but this reflects the engineers’ desire to find a ‘solid working base’ under the new regulations.

Why Liam Lawson isn’t worried about limited simulator mileage

Racing Bulls have prioritised user-friendly handling since Daniel Ricciardo’s struggles during the 2024 season.

Lawson benefited from driving a more compliant car after his demotion last year, while Isack Hadjar immediately looked comfortable as a rookie.

Given that the team has tended to field young Red Bull prospects, it makes sense to make the car as stable and predictable as possible.

Lawson has made limited use of the simulator this winter, aware that the real car could feel very different. After his first laps at Imola, he can begin to offer feedback on the correlation.