Red Bull and Racing Bulls were the first two F1 teams to launch their new challengers for the upcoming campaign, giving fans a new perspective on the inner-workings of their new car through the use of Apple’s Vision Pro headset.
The event took place in Detroit, Michigan, at the heart of Red Bull’s latest technical partner in engine development, Ford.
The reintroduction of the American automotive giants marks the first time that Ford’s branding has been seen in Formula 1 since 2004.
Coincidentally, it happened to be the Ford-owned Jaguar F1 outfit that Red Bull initially purchased at the end of 2004, which sparked the beginning of one of the most successful constructors in the sport’s recent history.
Red Bull showcased their new F1 car through the use of Apple’s £3.2k Vision Pro
During the Red Bull stable’s unveiling of the 2026 F1 challengers, fans were treated to an inside look at the new piece of machinery by a former team member and on-site mechanic, Calum Nicholas, through the use of Apple’s £3.2k Vision Pro headset.
On stage in Detroit, Nicholas used the device to manipulate a 3D hologram of the DM01 power unit, named after the late co-founder of Red Bull, Dietrich Mateschitz.
The mixed reality exhibition treated the audience to a see-through version of the engine, showing how the traditional motor and the new, more powerful electrical systems fit together.
Under the FIA’s new guidelines, these electric motors must now provide nearly 50% of the car’s total power, which is a significant shift from the 20% of power its predecessors provided.
The Williams F1 team had previously attempted to integrate the use of augmented reality into their season launch ahead of the 2021 campaign.
Unfortunately, the grand unveiling was scuppered by hackers, who compromised a dedicated app that the British constructor had created to show off their new F1 car.
Just hours before the reveal, Williams was forced to pull the app from the Apple and Google app stores and cancel the AR experience entirely, falling back on traditional 2D renders and photos.
Red Bull’s launch was just the beginning of Apple’s venture into F1
The appearance of Apple’s technology also goes hand-in-hand with the American technology giants’ first season as the official broadcaster for Formula 1 in the United States.
In October last year, it was announced that Apple had successfully secured broadcasting rights for F1 in a £560m ($750m) five-year deal that begins this year and runs through 2030.
Every single session will be broadcast live on the California-based company’s streaming platform, Apple TV, as well as live race data and standings through the Apple Sports app and iOS lock screen widgets.
The deal also comes after the success of the Apple-produced F1 movie, which is considered to be Apple Studios’ first box office hit.
After raking in £109m ($146m) on its opening weekend, it has since grossed a total of £471m ($631m) and became the highest-grossing film of Brad Pitt’s career.
A sequel has since been discussed, with the possibility of a franchise being created from the success of the film also being touted.
- READ MORE: Brad Pitt shares what he found ‘shocking’ during his first experience of driving an F1 car
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