The RB18 was designed to compete under the new technical regulations introduced for the 2022 Formula One season, which focused on ground-effect aerodynamics to encourage closer racing. The car featured 18-inch tires, replacing the 13-inch tires used for over 50 years, a completely different-looking rear wing, and a new-look front wing. The underbody and diffuser were designed to reduce the dirty air pushed out by the cars. The RB18 was powered by the Red Bull Powertrains RBPTH001, a 1.6-liter turbocharged V6 engine producing 1000+ HP, with a power output of 900HP and a capacity of 1600cc. The chassis weight was 150kg.
The RB18 made its debut at the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix, where both Verstappen and Pérez retired due to issues including a fuel lock issue and a broken steering column. At the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix, Pérez took his maiden pole position, and Verstappen secured his first win of the season. The Australian Grand Prix saw Verstappen retire due to a fuel leak while running second, with Pérez inheriting second place. Red Bull introduced weight-saving upgrades for the RB18 for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, where Verstappen took his first pole position of the season and secured a dominant victory, achieving a grand slam, and leading to a Red Bull 1-2 finish. At Miami, Verstappen won despite suffering from overheating and hydraulic issues in practice, while Pérez finished fourth. Further upgrades were introduced at the Spanish Grand Prix, again focusing on weight reduction, leading to a 1-2 finish with Verstappen leading Pérez. The Monaco Grand Prix saw Pérez win in wet conditions. At the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the RB18's straight-line speed advantage was prominent, resulting in another 1-2 finish for Verstappen and Pérez. In Canada, Verstappen took pole position and won the race, while Pérez retired with a gearbox issue. The British Grand Prix saw Verstappen hampered by floor damage, finishing seventh while Pérez finished second. At the Austrian Grand Prix, Verstappen secured pole and won the sprint race, but ultimately finished second in the main race. The French Grand Prix saw Verstappen dominate and win, with Pérez finishing fourth. At the Belgian Grand Prix, Verstappen and Pérez achieved a commanding one-two finish.
The RB18 competed in 22 races, achieving 17 victories and 28 podiums, including five one-two finishes. Verstappen won 15 races. The car was capable of reaching 360 km/h on the fastest circuits and secured 13 pole positions.
The RB18's success directly informed the design of its successor, the RB19. The lessons learned from this car informed the design of subsequent models, contributing to Red Bull's ongoing technical evolution.
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