Racing Bulls ran their new VCARB03 on track at Imola on a limited demonstration/filming day. The team completed a short, wet-weather shakedown of roughly 15 km (three laps under Demonstration Event rules), running full-wet demonstration tyres; Liam Lawson was reported to have driven while rookie Arvid Lindblad observed. Morning teething issues were reported, and photographers quickly published the first images and spy shots of the actual race chassis following last week’s Detroit livery reveal that used showcars. The chassis name VCARB03 reflects the team’s Visa and Cash App sponsorship, and the outing also marked the first real-world appearance of the new Red Bull Powertrains–Ford engine.

Engineers used the Imola session for system checks, installation procedures and initial data collection rather than any performance evaluation, and the team released few technical or lap-time details. Published images highlighted several styling and packaging features — a trapezoidal airbox, a nose that dives close to the front wing, narrow sidepod inlets and pushrod front and rear suspension — which Racing Bulls said would carry forward to the Barcelona tests.

Limited filming rules constrained mileage and compound choices, so the focus was on reliability, installation checks and producing promotional material rather than setup work. The team planned to return to Imola the following day for a longer promotional/filming session that could total about 200 km, with Lawson and Lindblad expected to share driving duties to build early mileage. The Imola outings were presented as a prelude to the official Barcelona pre-season test window, Jan. 26–30, and further preparation ahead of the competitive season.

Team boss Alan Permane has warned of frenetic development early in the new rules cycle; Racing Bulls is balancing an aggressive update plan with parts-production timelines as it moves from these demonstration runs into full testing and race preparation after finishing sixth in last season’s Constructors’ Championship.

Sources