The Red Bull Racing RB18 was the team's challenger for the 2022 FIA Formula 1 World Championship, the first season in which Red Bull ran its own in-house Red Bull Powertrains division following Honda's official withdrawal. Designed under technical director Adrian Newey and chief technical officer Pierre Waché, the car employed a low-rake ground-effect aerodynamic concept with sidepod undercuts and a pullrod front suspension — a decisive architectural choice under the new 2022 technical regulations. It won 17 of the 22 Grands Prix that season.
Red Bull's Ground-Effect Masterclass
Built to the wholesale regulatory reset introduced for 2022, the RB18 was powered by the RBPTH001 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 hybrid power unit — Honda-derived but badged as Red Bull Powertrains, marking a significant organisational milestone for the Milton Keynes outfit. The low-rake philosophy, sidepod geometry and pullrod front suspension distinguished it clearly from its predecessor, and the car's dominance across 17 race wins confirmed the concept's effectiveness over the full season.
Suzuka, 9 October 2022: The Championship Sealed
Verstappen started from pole at the Suzuka International Racing Course and won the Japanese Grand Prix outright. The combination of his victory and Charles Leclerc's penalised finish handed Verstappen the 2022 FIA Formula 1 Drivers' World Championship with four races still to run — his second consecutive title. At the same event, Red Bull Racing clinched the Constructors' Championship, their first since 2013. Verstappen ran car number 1 throughout 2022 as the defending champion, the first time that number had appeared on a Formula 1 car since Sebastian Vettel used it in 2014. The Oracle-branded navy, red and yellow livery carried prominent title-sponsor branding introduced that season.
Spark Model's 1:12 Resin Rendition
Spark Model's 1:12 Formula 1 series occupies the premium tier of the maker's output, sitting above the better-known 1:43 and 1:18 ranges in both scale and collector positioning. This release — catalogued as the No. 1 Verstappen Japan GP 2022 car — is hand-assembled in resin with livery applied via tampo printing. The included pit board is consistent with Spark's practice on championship-special editions within the 1:12 line, anchoring the model to the specific Suzuka moment rather than presenting a generic season version of the RB18.
In the Display Cabinet
At 1:12, this model commands significantly more shelf presence than a standard 1:43 or 1:18 piece, making it a natural anchor for a dedicated Verstappen or Red Bull Racing section. Logical companions include the Spark 1:12 RB18 No. 11 Sergio Pérez from the same 2022 season, or Verstappen's 2021 title-winning Red Bull RB16B for a consecutive-champions narrative. The pit board accessory adds a provenance detail that distinguishes this release within any multi-scale Red Bull collection.
Frequently asked questions
What race does this model represent?
It represents Max Verstappen's RB18, car No. 1, as raced at the 2022 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka on 9 October 2022 — the event at which he clinched his second FIA Formula 1 Drivers' World Championship.
What accessory is included with the model?
A pit board is included, consistent with Spark Model's championship-edition releases in the 1:12 Formula 1 range.
What material is used in construction?
The model is hand-assembled in resin, as is standard across Spark Model's 1:12 Formula 1 series.
Why did Verstappen run car number 1 in 2022?
As the reigning 2021 Drivers' World Champion, Verstappen chose to use the number 1 for the 2022 season. It was the first time that number appeared on a Formula 1 car since Sebastian Vettel used it in 2014.
