Red Bull car about 6‑7kg overweight

Red Bull’s 2026 Formula 1 car is believed to be about 6-7 kilograms overweight, according to a June 2 report by The Race, leaving the team with a performance handicap under the new regulations. The outlet said the excess mass has contributed to a lap-time deficit of about 0.2 seconds and has compounded other issues in the RB22’s balance and drivability. The report came ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix on June 5-7, where straight-line speed matters less than at Montreal but where setup compromises can still expose weaknesses. Red Bull had not publicly detailed the full scale of the issue in the report. ### Where does the 6-7kg figure come from? The Race said the estimate comes from the car’s apparent lap-time loss relative to the 2026 minimum weight target. The report said a deficit of around 0.2 seconds per lap would imply the car is about 6-7kg above the 768kg minimum. The 768kg figure is central because Formula 1’s 2026 rules paired heavier power-unit demands with a lower car-weight target. Christian Horner said last year that the minimum had been “plucked out of the air,” according to The Race, and described hitting it as “an enormous challenge” because the new engines are “significantly heavier.” ### How much of a problem is that in performance terms? A 0.2-second loss is material in Formula 1, especially in qualifying, where grid positions are often separated by hundredths. The Race reported that the extra mass is not just a paper problem but one that has affected Red Bull’s competitiveness in recent races. The report also said the weight penalty has fed into a broader package issue rather than standing alone. (the-race.com) Red Bull’s 2026 car has already been described elsewhere this season as carrying excess weight, with technical director Pierre Waché acknowledging before the season that the RB22, like several rivals, had kilos to remove. ### Has Red Bull already taken weight off the car? Miami was identified by The Race as the point where Red Bull made a significant step in reducing mass. The outlet said the car started the season heavier than it is now, which means the current 6-7kg estimate reflects progress already made rather than the team’s original launch condition. (the-race.com) Austria is the next date to watch. The Race reported that a further reduction is expected for Red Bull’s home race in late June, suggesting the team is spacing its fixes across the early part of the season rather than solving the issue in one update. ### Why is this harder than just stripping parts off the car? (the-race.com) Weight removal in Formula 1 is rarely free. Horner said last year that “saving weight costs a colossal amount of money,” according to The Race, and teams also have to preserve reliability, stiffness and aerodynamic consistency while cutting mass. (the-race.com) The Race’s June 2 report said Red Bull’s challenge is tied to the character of the whole car. If the team removes weight from the wrong areas, it risks changing balance or creating new handling problems for Max Verstappen and teammate Isack Hadjar, the report said. ### Why does Monaco still matter if straight-line speed is less decisive there? (the-race.com) Monaco begins with practice on June 5 and qualifying on June 6, and the circuit puts more emphasis on low-speed grip, ride and confidence over the bumps. The Race’s Formula 1 schedule page lists the race for June 7. Red Bull’s overweight problem still matters there because excess mass affects braking, direction change and tire behavior even on a lower-speed track. (the-race.com) The bigger checkpoint after Monaco may be Austria on June 26-28, which The Race identified as the next expected step in Red Bull’s effort to get closer to the 768kg limit. (the-race.com)