Red Bull has explained the decision to launch its RB14 in a one-off ‘special edition’ launch livery.
Team principal Christian Horner said it had brought its launch plans forwards compared to what it had done in previous seasons.
“It was good to have got the first few laps of 2018 under our belts and now we look forward to the first test in Barcelona next week.”
Max Verstappen was present at Silverstone while team mate Daniel Ricciardo shook down the new chassis in wet conditions.
“I think the car looks very aggressive and, actually, the livery I really, really like,” said Verstappen. “It’s always better to drive the car of course, and I can’t wait to drive the RB14 in Barcelona. I’m really looking forward to it and hopefully it will be dry.”
Red Bull has revealed its driver overalls for the upcoming season which remain very similar to those seen last year.
2018 F1 season
- McLaren staff told us we were “totally crazy” to take Honda engines in 2018 – Tost
- ‘It doesn’t matter if we start last’: How Red Bull’s junior team aided Honda’s leap forward
- Honda’s jet division helped F1 engineers solve power unit problem
- McLaren Racing losses rise after Honda split
- Ricciardo: Baku “s***show” was Red Bull’s fault
Ben Needham (@ben-n)
20th February 2018, 13:16
So we’ll likely see an unchanged livery based on the driver overalls. That’s fine in my book. I think it’s one of the best looking designs on the grid and is synonymous with the success Red Bull have had over the years.
The testing livery is a bit of fun and gets people talking… but it’s what’s underneath it that counts. Fingers crossed for a competitive year – Ricciardo and Verstappen are too chummy considering how good they both are!
George (@george)
20th February 2018, 21:16
@ben-n
I agree about the livery, people might complain that it never changes but 15 – 20 years down the line it will be considered a classic. I just wish they wouldn’t take up half of their drivers’ helmet design.
pastaman (@)
20th February 2018, 13:20
Just say you wanted to camouflage the aero, no shame in that
Phylyp (@phylyp)
20th February 2018, 13:56
So they hit or exceeded their shakedown target – good. All the other jibber jabber about a “digital disruption” livery is just blather, IMHO. Well, there’s no such thing as bad news, so Horner’s at it.
anon
20th February 2018, 18:13
@phylyp, the only “digital disruption” that is going on around Red Bull’s car seems to relate to some of their press photographs – some have spotted that they appear to have been editing out part of the side impact crash structures from the head on position (seemingly in an attempt to disguise that there appears to be some sort of slot in it).
hahostolze (@hahostolze)
20th February 2018, 14:00
It was a special livery designed to not show the scratches in the paint after the Ricciardo crash. Smart.
Neil (@neilosjames)
20th February 2018, 14:22
“We had some spare cash and the design guy was bored.”
Graham (@guitargraham)
20th February 2018, 14:30
oh god, Horner’s gone all “Ronspeak” on us
cm-cm
20th February 2018, 15:27
@guitargraham probably a result of being asked a million stupid questions about it. His half a million normal quotes about it don’t get the headline, so the journalists keep asking.
dutchtreat (@dutchtreat)
20th February 2018, 15:51
yes that Red Bull Aston Martin Tag Heuer Renault is a very cool car.
Rag Tag for short?
BillC
20th February 2018, 16:55
Keep the new livery, if not now then re-introduce it for some races later in the season.
Boomerang
20th February 2018, 19:22
To quote Autosport: ” Ricciardo crashed new RB14 on filming day! ” I’ve seen this front suspension design approach before and it gives the driver very little feedback on slippery track conditions. I hope I’m wrong but this car is a failure considering front suspension design. RB14 is probably perfected on aero side but the crash on low speed testifies mechanical issues. I don’t think the accident is all to Danny.
Lancer033 (@lancer033)
21st February 2018, 1:29
…or it’s the 1st time out in a new car on a wet track