Liam Lawson got behind the wheel of Racing Bulls’ new car, built for the 2026 F1 regulations, during a private shakedown at Imola on Tuesday.
The team took advantage of F1’s rules allowing up to 15 kilometres of running during a filming day to check the basics of their new chassis. They’ve also scheduled a second session for Wednesday, when they’ll be able to cover up to 200km.
Lawson took the VCARB 03 out in damp conditions at what used to be the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix circuit. He’s expected to split time behind the wheel with teammate Arvid Lindblad on Wednesday.
With Audi and Cadillac already conducting early track runs, Racing Bulls are just another team trying to get a jumpstart before official pre-season testing kicks off in Barcelona from January 26-30.
Racing Bulls’ air intake size draws attention on social media
F1 has made significant changes to the regulations this season, introducing updates across aerodynamics, chassis, engines and tyres. Racing Bulls have also changed engine suppliers, with the Red Bull Powertrains unit now in place following Honda’s move to Aston Martin.
Concerns over possible overheating have surfaced after photos of Lawson at Imola were shared by The Race. The unusually large air intake caught the eye of many fans.
“That air intake from the top is huge. Judging by the size of it, teams will have a hard time cooling those engines on a hot day,” said one F1 fan. Another added: “Seems like the Red Bull engine needs some cooling.”
“That top air intake?!” another fan noted. Others compared it to everyday items: “The airbox doubles as a coffee table,” while another simply said, “Absolutely massive air box.” One fan summed up the general reaction: “Wooow! That airbox is huge!”
Karun Chandhok taken aback by the size of Racing Bulls’ air intake on 2026 F1 car
Lawson’s run at Imola on Tuesday gave fans their first proper glimpse of Racing Bulls’ machine built for the 2026 rules. Unlike the livery reveal in Detroit, this was a full-spec car, one they plan to use again during testing in Barcelona.
According to Motorsport.com, Lawson drove an ‘identical’ version of the Racing Bulls car he and Lindblad will share in Barcelona, where teams can use any three of the five days. Racing Bulls’ run at Imola also revealed that they intend to use push-rod front and rear suspension.
The VCARB 03’s air intake has a trapezoidal shape and stands out because of its sheer size. It appears wider than Lawson’s helmet and sits under an engine cover that looks much bigger than what early renders showed.
Even Sky Sports pundit Karun Chandhok was surprised by the size of Racing Bulls’ air intake after seeing images from Lawson’s shakedown at Imola. The former HRT F1 driver noted on X: “That airbox is massive!”
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