RED Bull has unveiled its new car with which Aston Clinton racer Mark Webber will bid to become the world champion in 2012 – the RB8.
In an online ‘reveal’ on the team’s official website on Monday, the most eagerly anticipated new car of the winter follows the 2012 trend of incorporating the already infamous ‘boxer’s nose’ into the design to comply with the new lower nose-height regulations.
The latest creation from renowned designer Adrian Newey has set a new benchmark, though, incorporating a slope on the RB8’s nose which is more graceful to many of the other cars featuring the same stepped look so far.
Given last year’s RB7 won 12 races and claimed pole position at every grand prix bar one last season, the new challenger otherwise appears more familiar to its predecessor.
Newey himself says the car is evolutionary, although admits the effective ban on blown diffusers for 2012 has led to a “big re-think” at the car’s rear given the RB7 was built around the concept of lowly-exiting exhausts. He concedes the change could hurt them more than most. “It’s the fourth evolution of the RB5 this year, so obviously the pressure is to try and stay there if we possibly can,” he said.
Webber stays on at Red Bull for a sixth straight season bidding to recapture the form that took him so close to the 2010 championship after winning just one race last time round.
The 35-year-old Australian acknowledges the front of the grid is more competitive than ever at the moment, but feels motivated to hit the ground running from the off this time.
“I think off the back of last year many sportsmen or women when you don’t get the most out of a situation you always want to come back and improve and do a better job,” Webber said.
“The bar has been lifted very, very high in the last few seasons and it’s the challenge I’m looking forward to.
“I’ve had a really good winter and prepared for the season as best I can so I’m looking forward to the new season, I just cannot wait to get racing.
“We can talk a lot about it but we need to get on the track.”
> Picture: Red Bull Media
