Red Bull reveals 2022 livery on RB18 show car

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The 2022 drivers’ champions Red Bull Racing has revealed this season’s livery on the 2022 show car, the RB18.

The Milton Keynes-based outfit hosted a virtual launch from its factory, the RB18 and this car will be driven by new champion Max Verstappen alongside Baku Grand Prix winner Sergio Perez in the season ahead.

But while the model on display featured the team’s latest livery, which includes more exposure for title sponsor Oracle, Red Bull appeared to be keeping its technical secrets under wraps for now.

The RB18 that was unveiled appeared to be just an upgraded version of the Formula 1 Management concept show car that was revealed last year.

While having a different nose and wing from the FOM model, much of the car was identical – suggesting Red Bull did not wish to show off its definitive version just yet.

Speaking at the launch, team boss Christian Horner said Red Bull are fired up for the campaign ahead after its success in 2021.

“We are aiming to build on what we achieved last year,” he said. “The target is to try to retain the title.

“The big unknown is have we missed something with these regulations and has someone else stolen a march?

“It’s a clean sheet of paper for every single team. By the time we get to the first race, the RB18 won’t look much like it looks today, the evolution will be very quick as we progress through the season.

“It is a steep learning curve for everyone and it is a contest in development between the first and the last race.”

While Japanese car manufacturer Honda has withdrawn from Formula 1 for cost reasons, Red Bull will continue to be powered by the same power units following a new arrangement.

As it looks to the long-term future, Red Bull has set up its own powertrains division to build power units for itself.

In the short term, however, Honda will continue to prepare its engines from its Japanese headquarters.

While the RB18 no longer features Honda stickers, it does feature branding from its Honda Racing Corporation division.

Red Bull is coming off the back of its most successful season in Formula 1’s turbo hybrid era as it pushed Mercedes hard all the way to the final round in 2021.

And while its rival managed to secure the constructors’ championship title, Verstappen’s last lap pass of Lewis Hamilton in Abu Dhabi was enough to take a victory that secured him his maiden drivers’ crown.

Verstappen’s title was the first for Red Bull since Sebastian Vettel’s triumph back in 2013.

The upcoming season is going to be fascinating in terms of the new regulations in place. Max Verstappen is the defending champion too so this upcoming championship is going to be exciting and thrilling.

4 thoughts to “Red Bull reveals 2022 livery on RB18 show car”

  2. News stories:
    https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.revealed-red-bull-show-off-verstappens-2022-title-defence-challenger-the.4W2MaPHNlelufO6uuIeCDH.html
    https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.analysis-why-red-bull-keeping-their-powder-dry-with-soft-rb18-launch-could.2urjE6JCvuxPnz099hBL6d.html
    https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/oracle-named-as-red-bull-racing-f1-title-sponsor/8021900/
    https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-2022-cars-will-be-a-lot-faster-on-straights-says-red-bull/8025146/
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/60318049
    https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12475/12537424/red-bull-reveal-new-car-and-title-sponsor-as-team-launch-rb18b-max-verstappens-next-title-hopeful
    https://the-race.com/formula-1/gary-anderson-how-red-bulls-real-2022-f1-car-will-likely-differ/

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  3. ‘There’s no reason to be different’ – Reigning champion Verstappen not feeling the pressure as Red Bull launch RB18. Formula1.com article:

    There aren’t many 24-year-olds who’ve started a new Formula 1 season as the reigning world champion. But Max Verstappen appeared unfazed by the prospect, as his Red Bull team launched their new RB18 challenger – which has been built to F1’s sweeping new 2022 regulations.

    Verstappen appeared at a digital presentation of the RB18 – which appeared at the launch to be similar to Formula 1’s 2022-spec showcar, suggesting Red Bull might be keeping key elements of the RB18’s design under wraps – alongside team mate Sergio Perez and Team Principal Christian Horner.

    And asked if it felt different to be heading into a new season with a target on his back – and the number one on his car – Verstappen replied: “Not really. I’m just looking forward to get back in the car and start driving it, to see how everything is handling. I had a good bit of time off and recharged to go driving again.

    “I just do what I do all the time – there is no reason to suddenly be different,” added Verstappen, “and of course, as a driver now with the new regulations, you have to get used to the car. It’s not like you just jump in and it’s an upgrade from last year. So that is going to be the biggest adaptation.

    “A lot is unknown about the car. So personally I feel good. What is important is that you prepare yourself in the best way possible physically. But in terms of the car, you don’t know. So that’s why I’m very curious to see how the car is behaving on track… But the rest, I think it’s pretty straightforward.”

    Perez stays on for his second season with Red Bull, meanwhile. And having had a mixed start to life with the team in 2021 – which yielded a solitary win at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – the Mexican said he was looking forward to everyone “starting from zero” as they get up to speed with the demands of the 2022 car.

    “It feels like we were in Abu Dhabi yesterday!” said Perez, referring to the final race of last season. “But on the other hand, I’m so excited to start the new season. We’re already working a lot with the engineers and we just cannot wait to be on track with these new cars, and we’re starting from zero, all of us.

    “The new regulations are said to improve the competition on track, so I hope that for us as drivers we can compete more, race more and follow each other more closely,” added Perez. “There will be a lot of things we need to learn and adapt to – but these new regulations are set to make everything very interesting.”

    The Red Bull RB18 is set to hit the track when pre-season running begins at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on February 23.

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  4. Horner admits RB18 ‘won’t look very much like’ launch car, as Red Bull prepare to defend drivers’ title. Article taken from Formula1.com.

    The Red Bull RB18 broke cover for the first time on February 9, as the team – including reigning world champion Max Verstappen – launched their new challenger. But Team Principal Christian Horner said he expected to see the all-new breed of cars evolve “very, very quickly” over the course of the 2022 season.

    The RB18 shown off to the public on Wednesday appeared to be a subtly reworked version of the 2022-spec Formula 1 showcar revealed last summer. And speaking at the car’s launch, Horner admitted that fans should expect the RB18 to look very different by the time the five lights go out at the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 20.

    “Because it’s new regulations, it’s going to evolve very, very quickly,” said Horner of the new RB18. “I think by the time we get to the first race, the car’s not going to look very much like this and I think the evolution will be very, very quick as we progress through the season.

    “You’re always improving,” added Horner. “You can always learn from previous experiences. But of course, the complete new set of regulations is going to be all about the development; how quickly the teams get on top of the set of new regulations.

    “It’s the biggest regulation change for probably 30 to 40 years in Formula 1, so development is going to be thick and fast, and of course with the cost [cap] it has to be efficient.”

    Horner went on to praise the job done by Verstappen in 2021, when he claimed his first ever World Championship at the season finale in Abu Dhabi – with Horner adding that Red Bull’s chief aim was to defend the Dutchman’s drivers’ title in 2022, a year that will see the newly-formed Red Bull Powertrains take responsibility for the running of the RB18’s Honda-derived power units.

    “Max was phenomenal last year,” said Horner, “an outstanding season for him. He dominated the amount of laps led, and 10 Grand Prix victories, and the World Championship. His confidence is going to be sky-high, and he’ll be looking to build on those performances in 2022.

    “Checo [Verstappen’s team mate Sergio Perez] in his first year, winning that race in Azerbaijan, other podiums, he is going to be stronger and taking a step up I am sure in 2022.

    “We are aiming to build on what we achieved last year,” added Horner. “The target is to try and retain the title, and the big unknown is, have we missed something with these regulations, has another team stolen the march because of the focus and effort that went into 2021.

    “We believe that we have a good car. RB18 is coming to life. Seeing it today is fantastic. It is a culmination of a huge effort from the team. I’m looking forward to seeing it out on the track in anger.”

    The ‘seeing it out on the track in anger’ part should come at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on February 23, as F1’s pre-season running begins.

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