Red Bull RB22 livery proves a hit with F1 fans: "Now that's how you upgrade an iconic livery"

Formula 1 fans have praised Red Bull's refreshed 2026 livery featuring a glossy finish and Ford-blue accents, though some criticised the pixelated race numbers

Formula 1 fans have been quick to share their thoughts on the new Red Bull livery for the 2026 season.

The Milton Keynes outfit and its sister team, Racing Bulls, kicked off the 2026 launch season at an event with Ford Racing in Detroit, Michigan.

For years, Red Bull has only made small changes to its matte livery, but the RB22 has seen a return of the gloss-finish design and pops of the bright Ford blue throughout - a welcome change for fans. The blue and black colour scheme features a jacquard pattern and pixelated car numbers.

"Feels like a great balance between recent years and Seb's days. I'm just pumped that they changed literally anything. The numbers, in particular, look great," one fan wrote on Reddit, while another added: "It does look like a return to the pre-V6 Hybrid colours, which is a welcome sight. Way better than their sister team's barely any changes at all livery."

"Honestly, it looks amazing. Everything just works together amazingly + the glossy finish and the white outlines," someone else commented, and another fan said: "Now that's how you upgrade an iconic livery."

Other reactions include: "Ford blue from the side. Classic RB from the front. Clever," and "This is so fire. The glossy old school look is amazing. Well done Red Bull."

While the overall reaction seems to be incredibly positive, others were not so keen on the pixelated race numbers. "Personally, I hate the pixellated number," one fan wrote, and another added: "Okay, that owns. The pattern isn’t my favourite up close, but the overall look is a welcome change."

Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar also welcomed the new livery. The four-time champion argued the new look was "much more fresh."

"It is much better. I like the shine, blue is my favourite colour. I like the outlines on the Red Bull logo. It is back and much more fresh," he said.