Red Bull rolled out its final major 2026 upgrade in Baku
NXTbets Pro | Published On: September 24, 2026
Red Bull upgrade package
Red Bull rolled out what it called its final major update of the 2026 Formula 1 season at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, a five-part package built around a new floor and backed by revisions to the sidepods and mirrors. The team had already shifted most of its resources to the 2027 car, so the Baku upgrade arrived as the team focused its resources on next year’s car. Both RB22s ran the same specification in Azerbaijan, with Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar running the package. The floor stood as the biggest change in the group, with the other revisions aimed at refining the car around it.
Baku practice feedback
Pierre Wache said the package performed as expected in Thursday practice in Baku. Hadjar provided a second point of reference after returning from a wrist injury that kept him out of the previous three races. He said the car felt better than when he last drove it in Hungary, and he was pleased with the new package.
Red Bull season focus
Laurent Mekies said Red Bull was still chasing its first win of the season, and he framed the remaining races as part of a broader effort to keep learning for next year. The team had improved in recent races, but Mekies said it still had work to do to match the fastest cars. Verstappen had finished on the podium in five of the last seven Grands Prix, a run that showed the team had been more competitive even without the breakthrough victory it wanted. The final major upgrade of 2026 was part of that effort to keep learning for next year while the bulk of the work shifted to the next car. The remaining races were part of that effort as Red Bull chased its first win.
