The Race F1 Podcast Red Bull and Verstappen kick-off F1 launch season - but what did we learn?
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Jan 16, 2026 
Jon Noble, an experienced motorsport journalist, joins to dissect Red Bull's dazzling launch in Detroit, revealing a fresh livery and deep insights into their power unit for 2026. They delve into Ford's influential role, the intriguing design clues from the show cars, and Max Verstappen's measured approach as he gears up for a pivotal year. The discussion also touches on the modest debut of Racing Bulls and predictions for their season, underscoring the dynamic interplay of technical detail and driver expectations in F1's ever-evolving landscape.
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Launch Emphasised Powertrain Story
- Red Bull's launch focused on powertrains and Ford's role rather than flashy stunts, showing a technical, long-term narrative.
- That framing signals Red Bull wants credit for building Rebel Powertrains while using Ford to accelerate progress.
Don't Overinterpret The Show Car
- Treat the Red Bull show car as a vision of 2026, not a definitive race car.
- Avoid drawing definitive aerodynamic conclusions until we see detailed cars in Barcelona and testing.
Show Car Hints At Design Divergence
- The show car's different front suspension (push-rod vs expected pull-rod) hints at philosophical variance between teams.
- Such design choices signal early diversity under the 2026 regs rather than conformity.