Red Bull have unveiled their RB18 car which will contest the 2022 season with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez at the wheel for a second consecutive season.
The RB18 will be the first car to be powered by an independent power unit manufacturer following Honda’s exit, with Red Bull instead operating their own power unit manufacturer through Red Bull Powertrains – albeit with assistance from Honda this season.
Red Bull however have retained their usual predominantly blue livery with yellow and red bull splashed across the engine cover, although there are several aesthetical changes from the introduction of 18-inch Pirelli tyres to wheel covers and over-wheel winglets.
RB18 under the steering wheel of Max Verstappen will also be the first Red Bull car to be driven by the reigning world champion since the RB10 in 2014, when Sebastian Vettel was that season’s defending champion which he eventually lost to Lewis Hamilton.
Speaking about his expectations of the new RB18, Verstappen who will sport the number ‘1’ for the first time since permanent driver numbers were introduced in 2014 said: “I am just looking forward getting back into the car and start to drive it to see how everything is handling…”
“A lot is unknown about the car so personally I feel good but what is important is that you prepare yourself in the best way possible physically but hey in terms of the car you don’t know so that is why I am curious to see how the car is behaving on track.”
Perez meanwhile is confident that the new car will be easy to adapt to from a driver’s perspective but insisted that the learning of the car as a team will be “interesting” once the on-track data begins to unfold in pre-season testing later this month.
Red Bull Team Principal, Christian Horner meanwhile believes that the car is now “a lot cleaner” with less added parts than were on RB16b last season, with the concept of the new car aimed at promoting “overtaking and close racing”, which requires application of “a new philosophy and it’s a clean sheet of paper for every single team.”
Horner also teased fans that fans should expect the pecking order to “evolve very quickly” once the season is underway as teams adapt to the new rules in various manners.
Red Bull will also continue their collaboration with Honda outside of F1 moving forward into the future on marketing and branding initiatives.
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