Formula One: Red Bull Racing unveil car they hope will end Mercedes-GP domination

Daniel Ricciardo impressed by ride for the 2017 season.

A screenshot showing RB13 from their video. Courtesy: Red Bull

Red Bull Racing have become the final of Formula One’s elite teams to reveal their car for the forthcoming season.

The former world champions are hoping to take advantage of the change to the sport’s technical regulations and usurp Lewis Hamilton’s dominant Mercedes-GP team this year.

Their concept, unveiled in an online launch ahead of the opening day of the first pre-season test in Barcelona on Monday, will be driven by Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen.

Adrian Newey, Red Bull’s chief technical officer who is widely regarded as one of the finest Formula One designers of his generation, has spearheaded the team’s 2017 challenger.

Red Bull finished second in last year’s constructors’ championship with Ricciardo and Verstappen recording one victory apiece.

“The goal is to be on the top step enough times that come October, November it has put me in a fight for the title,” said Ricciardo, 27, who finished behind champion Nico Rosberg and Hamilton in the driver standings last season, and is starting his fourth campaign with the Milton Keynes based constructor.

“As a team, we can build, take and learn a lot from 2016. We really set ourselves up well to continue in that trend. For 2017 we are looking strong, looking good and everyone is in the right mindset and that hunger is back.”

Commenting on the car, named the RB13, Ricciardo said: “It looks quite beautiful. It definitely looks sleek, and they look like the fastest cars in the world.”

Verstappen, the 19-year-old Dutchman, won on his Red Bull debut at the Spanish Grand Prix last May, while his superb display in the wet conditions at the penultimate race of the season in Brazil was one of the finest in recent memory.

“I want to win races but you need to have the right equipment for that,” Verstappen added. “It s a completely different car.

“I am very confident that Red Bull can do a very good job as they have shown in the previous years. The mood is very good and very positive.

“The car looks very aggressive and hopefully when it looks that aggressive and cool it will be fast.”

The duo will get the first taste of the new Red Bull from Monday when the sport roars back into life at the Circuit de Catalunya.

The opening of two winter tests will run until Thursday before Melbourne’s Albert Park plays host to the season-opening grand prix on March 26.

* Press Association

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE

Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport