Red Bull launches new RB8

Formula One's defending drivers' and constructors' world champions Red Bull Racing took the wraps off their new Renault-powered RB8 at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit in eastern Spain today.

The new car features the same visibly 'stepped' nose section as seen in every new F1 car so far with the exception of McLaren's MP4-27. However, the car's step-nose seems to be a hybrid of the dramatic step seen on the Catheram, Ferrari, Sauber and the smoother steps seen on the Lotus' E20 and Force India's VJM05.

Driving the new car will be the unchanged driver line-up of two-time defending world champion Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Australia's Mark Webber. Vettel was confident that the team could repeat their title success.

"Oh, we do it again!" said Vettel when asked what his next target would be after a successful 2011 season. "Obviously, we had a great year, and I think you know we’ll always look back to 2011 and think how special it was, but to be honest, you don’t start the season having, you know, expectations to have the same or similar season again."

First Published: Feb 06, 2012 22:19 IST