Archive · 20 Jan 2026
Racing Bulls' VCARB 03 Debuts at Imola
Racing Bulls, a Formula 1 team, showed off their new car, the VCARB 03, at Imola in Italy.
This car is special because it uses a new engine made by Red Bull Ford Powertrains.
The team's drivers, Liam Lawson and Zak O'Sullivan, drove the car for the first time on a wet track.
They did three laps to make sure everything worked okay.
The car has a white and blue design, which is different from last year's all-white car.
The team will do more testing in the coming days and weeks to get ready for the new Formula 1 season.
Racing Bulls unveiled their 2026 VCARB 03 car at Imola, Italy, with a distinctive new airbox and packaging shaped by F1’s incoming chassis and engine regulations.
The car features a white and blue design, with blue accents flowing along the chassis, nodding to Ford’s arrival as the engine manufacturer.
Liam Lawson completed the regulation-limited 15km (three laps) on full wet tyres amid light rain, with a few minor teething issues but overall clean running.
This marked the first on-track running of Red Bull Powertrains’ own engine as a manufacturer.
Racing Bulls will return to Imola for a full filming day with up to 200km of running, and then proceed to Barcelona for official pre-season testing from January 26–30.
- Who
- Racing Bulls, Liam Lawson, Zak O'Sullivan
- What
- Unveiling and shakedown of the VCARB 03
- When
- January 20, 2026
- Where
- Imola, Italy
- Why
- To test the new car and engine before the 2026 Formula 1 season
- Car Model
- VCARB 03
- Engine Manufacturer
- Red Bull Ford Powertrains
- Location
- Imola, Italy
- Date
- January 20, 2026
- Drivers
- Liam Lawson, Zak O'Sullivan
- Tyres
- Full wet tyres
- Distance
- 15km (three laps)