F1 LIVE | Red Bull sets date for F1 2026 car launch, Wolff calls Masi a 'lunatic'

Red Bull Racing has confirmed that its 2026 challenger, the RB22, will be unveiled on January 15, 2026, in Detroit, USA, the hometown of new engine partner Ford.

The launch will also include Racing Bulls’ 2026 car in a joint team presentation, GPblog understands. However, it remains unclear whether the actual RB22 will be shown or if fans will see only the livery, as Red Bull has a history of delaying its true car reveal until closer to pre-season testing.

The early unveiling aligns with an accelerated 2026 F1 testing schedule under the incoming new technical regulations. Teams will begin private testing in Barcelona (January 26–30) before official sessions in Bahrain, first from February 11–13 and again from February 18–20.

The early start marks a major shift as both teams prepare to integrate Ford’s power unit technology and adapt to F1’s next-generation hybrid era, making the Detroit launch one of the most anticipated events of the season.

Toto Wolff has reignited memories of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, branding former FIA Race Director Michael Masi “a lunatic” who “destroyed the record of the greatest champion of all time.”

Lewis Hamilton appeared destined for an unprecedented eighth world title before a late crash by Nicholas Latifi brought out the safety car.

In a move that stunned the sport, Masi allowed only select lapped cars to unlap themselves, creating a one-lap showdown that handed Max Verstappen the championship and left Mercedes furious.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Wolff said the experience felt like “a loss of control,” a moment that still weighs heavily on both him and his wife, Susie Wolff, who recalled her “disbelief” that one decision could rewrite Formula 1 history.

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