The championship-winning team Red Bull Racing unveiled its latest Formula 1 car, the RB9 at a launch in Milton Keynes.
Red Bull Racing took its third drivers’ and constructors’ championship last season, with Sebastian Vettel becoming the sport’s youngest ever triple champion after a close contest with Ferrari rival Fernando Alonso.
The RB9 will be powered by the Renault engine and it will be fascinating to see if the new car still has the edge over its rivals despite the restrictions in the sport’s regulations as technical director Adrian Newey acknowledges.
“It is increasingly difficult because there are no real regulations changes compared to this year and it will be the fifth season since the 2009 rule changes,” Newey said.
“The field is converging and you can see how competitive it is in the fact that we had eight different winners this year.”
The RB9 has a slightly revised colour scheme incorporating purple, to reflect the team’s title branding from Infiniti.
Defending world champion Sebastian Vettel will again be partnered with Mark Webber. The RB9 will have its first shakedown run at Jerez during pre-season testing.
Watch the video on the building on the new Red Bull RB9 below:
News stories on the Red Bull RB9:
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2013/02/03/red-bull-rb9-launch-pictures/
http://www1.skysports.com/formula-1/news/12475/8467336/Red-Bull-launch-the-RB9
http://www.f1technical.net/news/18126
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/21313453
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/2/14236.html
Follow the team on Twitter here:
https://twitter.com/redbullracing
https://twitter.com/AussieGrit
Red Bull’s technical chief Adrian Newey says the new RB9 is an evolution of the championship-winning car of last year.
Newey admitted the lack of regulation changes for the upcoming season meant there was no big reason to go for a revolutionary design.
“It’s an evolutionary car,” said Newey during the launch of Red Bull’s ninth Formula 1 single-seater.
“There were no big regulation changes over the winter. The most significant change is not the regulations, it’s the new Pirelli tyres. We had a quick test in P1 in Brazil but it was very hot and on a green track and in truth we didn’t learn a lot.”
He added: “It’s really been a case of refining the RB8. There are no huge changes. It’s very much an evolutionary car. All the principles the same as last year.
“The devil has very much been in the detail with this car. We’ve tidied up some bits that we felt could be improved on. Development is now the key through the year.”
Newey said understanding the new Pirelli tyres will be as key as it was last year, with the Italian manufacturer having altered its products for 2013.
“We need to continue to understand the tyres,” he said. “Every time we thought we understood them last year, some fresh surprise would come in and we’d realise it wasn’t complete. And they’ve changed the tyre anyway this year.
“Past experience is that it’s only when we get out testing that we really find out about the tyres.”
Newey acknowledged that having the car ready in time for the first test of the year was a great effort by Red Bull given how long the 2012 championship battled extended.
“We obviously had a very tight championship battle last year and it was difficult trying to develop last year’s car and do the research into this year’s car,” he said.
“It gave us a very tight timeframe to manufacture this car. To have it here today, two days before the first test, is a remarkable effort.”
Source: Autosport.com
Team boss Christian Horner has no doubts about Webber’s talent despite Marko’s comments. Autosport.com has the details.
Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner insists that Helmut Marko’s recent criticisms of Mark Webber should not be taken as a sign that the Formula 1 team itself has any doubts about the Australian’s talent.
Marko, a motorsport advisor for Red Bull, told the company’s own in-house magazine earlier this month that he felt Webber lacked the consistency and psychological strength to win a world championship.
At the launch of the Red Bull RB9, Horner distanced himself from Marko’s opinions.
“We all know Helmut can be outspoken at times. His comments reflected his opinion, and these things can be misinterpreted,” Horner said.
“If we weren’t happy with Mark we would never have signed him for this year.
“We give both drivers equal opportunity and it’s down to what they do on the circuit.
“Certainly in the team, that’s the approach and we’ll continue to do that.
“For us, it doesn’t matter which driver wins as long as it’s in one of these cars.”
Webber added that he did not let Marko’s comments have any effect on his self-belief, and that he would not be at Red Bull if he doubted the team had faith in him.
“I do believe I can have a crack at the championship again this year, as I have done in previous seasons,” he said.
“That’s what I’m getting up each day thinking.
“The team know I need 100 per cent support. You cannot win world championships with 90 per cent support.
“That’s what I’m confident of.”
Red Bull technical chief Adrian Newey is open to the Formula 1 champion team using a passive DRS-style device during the 2013 season, but admitted it was tough to make such a system effective.
Newey acknowledged that devices such as that used by Lotus had great potential, if their challenges could be conquered.
“It’s for sure an interesting area,” he said at the launch of the RB9.
“It’s also very tricky to have a system that’s reliable, that withstands following another car without being triggered at moments that would be embarrassing, and to make it a positive gain on balance over the weekend.
“None of those things are straightforward.”
He would not be drawn on how far Red Bull had progressed with its own DRS addition.
“We have certainly investigated it,” said Newey.
“I wouldn’t like to give away what we may or may not do during the season.
“It’s a very interesting area, and it’s there to be explored.
“Deriving lap time benefit, or more importantly points benefit, out of it, is more difficult.”
Source: Autosport.com