Every Formula 1 team begins the season aiming to capture both the drivers’ and constructors’ titles, with McLaren securing this achievement last year as Lando Norris carried the number one on his car into 2026. The recent regulation changes are expected to level the field somewhat, giving manufacturers such as Cadillac and Audi their first opportunities to compete—but it remains uncertain whether smaller teams like Racing Bulls can make a significant leap forward.
Although George Russell led the lap count during the Barcelona shakedown, experience alone may not be enough for smaller teams to challenge the front-runners. This year, teams will look to Brawn GP’s 2009 surprise victory as inspiration for an upset, but figures like Damon Hill and Johnny Herbert have expressed doubts about Racing Bulls ever reaching that level.
Racing Bulls’ Struggles Amidst F1 Competition
Since their earliest days as Minardi in 1985, Racing Bulls have managed only two race wins and seven podium finishes. With Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad now representing the team, continuing or improving on this history looks difficult, especially given Red Bull’s dominance and reluctance to see their sister team surpass them.
Damon Hill’s Perspective on Racing Bulls’ Prospects
On the Stay on Track Podcast, Johnny Herbert questioned:
“Can they move themselves, or probably keep themselves in the position they find themselves at the moment? That’s going to be very, very tough as well.”
Damon Hill added,
“But they’re a kind of minnow team, aren’t they? They’re a kind of plucky little, doing really well, but they haven’t got the mass, the momentum to be a front-running team.”
Hill also pointed out:
“And of course they’re sponsored by the same fizzy drink.”
Limitations of Being Red Bull’s Sister Team
The presence of Red Bull heavily influences Racing Bulls’ ceiling within Formula 1. Johnny Herbert observed,
“But you know, from when we started in Formula 1, there were some minnows, but they were very, very poor minnows and they were really way off the pace.”
He continued to acknowledge Racing Bulls’ competitiveness among smaller teams:
“But considering how small they are, how competitive they have been for the last I don’t know three, four, five years maybe.”
Driver Lineup and Future Prospects for Racing Bulls
The team enters the 2026 campaign with the least experienced driver combination on the grid. Arvid Lindblad is the only rookie, while Liam Lawson has participated in just 35 Grands Prix. Reports from Martin Brundle highlight promising aspects of Lindblad’s performance at the Barcelona shakedown, which may increase pressure on Lawson to prove his place.
Lawson’s brief experience with the senior Red Bull squad suggests limited chances of moving beyond Racing Bulls, especially if the sister team continues to serve as a stepping stone for Red Bull’s young talent. David Coulthard expressed confidence in Lawson’s endurance within the sport, saying the 24-year-old has
“dealt with the challenge, now he’s broken the back of it.”
While Lawson, like every driver, aspires to become a world champion, he faces a tough path. Achieving a race victory in a Racing Bulls car, as Sebastian Vettel and Pierre Gasly once did, would be necessary to solidify his future with the team; otherwise, seeking a new seat might become inevitable.
