Red Bull Racing driver Isack Hadjar revealed why the team’s RB22 transformed from trailing the pace by roughly one second per lap at the start of the 2026 Formula 1 season into a race winner at the recent Malaysian Grand Prix on the Sepang International Circuit, pointing to crucial car updates and the presence of teammate Max Verstappen.
Miami update package resolves steering arm flaw
Red Bull began the 2026 campaign trailing early pacesetters Mercedes and Ferrari by significant margins. In the season-opening races in Melbourne and beyond, Hadjar noted that the team sat roughly nine tenths of a second off the frontrunners before slipping further back. The trajectory shifted during the Miami Grand Prix, where Red Bull introduced its first major update package of the season to rectify a fundamental handling flaw. Verstappen had identified that the car’s steering arm was incorrect, denying the driver accurate feedback from the front end. Once engineers resolved that issue, the team unlocked the ability to address broader performance limitations, stabilizing the RB22 through the European rounds before a late-season upgrade pushed them back into the fight.
In-house power unit secures first victory
The victory at Sepang marked Red Bull’s first win powered by its own in-house power unit. Motorsport reported that Hadjar vividly recalled testing the new engine in Barcelona, admitting he initially worried the team faced a long development climb. Despite those early concerns, the Milton Keynes squad successfully optimized software and energy management systems behind the scenes. Team principal Christian Horner noted after the race that the Powertrains project started as ‘a hole in the ground’ five years ago, making the milestone victory particularly striking for the organization.
RB22 setup becomes more predictable
RacingNews365 reported that Hadjar observed major improvements in how quickly the team reaches the correct setup window. Earlier in the year, the RB22 proved difficult to dial in during Friday practice sessions, leaving engineers guessing ahead of qualifying. By the time the championship reached Baku and Sepang, setup adjustments yielded logical, predictable car behavior and healthier tire behavior. Hadjar noted that while performance swings may still occur under varying track pressures, the frantic setup guesswork of the early rounds has largely subsided.
Data Analysis and Singapore Expectations
Looking ahead to the Marina Bay Street Circuit, F1maximaal reported that Hadjar draws confidence from telemetry data gathered from Verstappen’s recent performances on bumpy, low-speed tracks. Although Red Bull historically encounters difficulties over kerbstones and severe bumps, Hadjar observed that Verstappen successfully managed the curbing in the first sector of Madrid. While acknowledging that the RB22 still exhibits balance limitations on uneven tarmac, Hadjar believes the team’s upward trajectory leaves them well-positioned heading into the Singapore Grand Prix weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Red Bull introduce its first major upgrade of 2026?
Red Bull rolled out its first major update package during the Miami Grand Prix, which successfully resolved an incorrect steering arm configuration that had been hindering Max Verstappen’s feedback.
What milestone did Red Bull achieve at the Sepang International Circuit?
Max Verstappen secured Red Bull Racing’s first Grand Prix victory of the 2026 season, which also marked the first Formula 1 race win achieved using Red Bull’s proprietary in-house power unit.
How did Isack Hadjar describe his initial impression of the new Red Bull engine?
As reported by Motorsport, Hadjar admitted that after driving the power unit for its first lap in Barcelona, he initially feared the team faced a very long development season.
