Red Bull Racing F1 Team has revealed on Monday the first three images of its new car (RB14) for the 2018 Formula 1 season, ahead of the schedule of its launches in previous years.
The main changes from the 2017 RB13, like the Haas VF-18 and the Williams FW-41 presented last week, are the disappearance of the rear fins and the appearance of the Halo, the new protection device of the cockpit.
“Installing the Halo has been a challenge – mainly building a chassis strong enough to integrate it and passing a brutal certification test – but the rest of the regulations remain fairly stable. That’s why we can start (the car) earlier than usual.” Red Bull in a statement said.
In addition, there is no T-wing found on the new RB14 at this launch, with teams good to combine such a wing much lower and forward back on the bodywork in comparison with those used in last year. However, the team often puts major aerodynamic upgrades in the final two days of pre-season testing ahead of the first race.
The final livery of the RB14 will be unveiled only during pre-season testing in Barcelona on February 26 – March 9. However, as its temporary black and blue version designed to hide some aerodynamic elements of the chassis, an increased place to the new title sponsor Aston Martin.
Like last year, the new car will be equipped with a Renault engine TAG Heuer and driven by the two drivers Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo, who tested it on the British circuit Silverstone on Monday.
Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo and his team-mate Max Verstappen. (Source:www.skysports.com)
The Austrian team based in Milton Keynes, UK, had the habit of presenting their new car just before the start of the tests, to devote themselves as long as possible to its development.
“It makes sense, but you do not do that if you do not need it and this year it was not useful,” said the third team at the Constructors’ Championship last year, with three wins.
“It is better to finish the car quickly and fix the problems now, close to the factory, rather than wasting one of the eight precious days of testing on the Catalunya circuit.” they added.
