06/02/2012
NEWS STORY
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Red Bull has unveiled the RB8, the car with which it intends to defend its back-to-back drivers' and constructors' titles.
Like most of the cars we've seen thus far, the new rules mean that it is not exactly pleasing to the eye, as designer Adrian Newey is the first to admit.
"The restriction nose height which is a maximum height just in front of the front bulkhead hasn't really changed the chassis shape very much," explains the Englishman.
"We've kept more or less the same chassis shape," he continues, "but had to drop the nose just in front of the front bulkhead, which, in common with many other teams, has led us to I think I'd probably say a slightly ugly looking nose. We've tried to style it as best we can, but it's not a feature you would choose to put in were it not for the regulation."
As for the team's goals in 2012, team boss Christian Horner said: "The team's goals are quite simple. It's to try and defend both titles in the manner (in which) we achieved them. Of course, when you've achieved what we have, particularly in 2011, we've set a very high standard for ourselves. But, we're always looking to improve, we're always looking, in all areas, to try and do better. We can't control what our opponents do, we're up against some formidable opponents, but we can only really focus on ourselves and only when we get to Melbourne will we truly know where we sit against our rivals."
Ominously, as far as his rivals are concerned, double world champion, Sebastian Vettel, is under no illusions as to his target for 2012: "We do it again!" he says. "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.
"So we know how special it was and we really enjoyed that but we know how hard it is to be that consistent - always there and nearly every race on the podium - so, you know, the target is to obviously try to do it again and try to get everything out of ourselves, so we'll see how we get on with the new car."
Asked what he's hoping for from the new car, Mark Webber said: "The characteristics of the RB8 we're looking for is a car that's very driveable which means not only from an engine side, Renault are doing a good job there, but also aerodynamically we need a car that's functional on all circuits in all temperatures and clearly we need to get the best out of the tyres which was a huge thing last year for everybody. That's pretty much done now. Everyone knows how the tyres behave, that's old news. We need to move on and develop the car as best we can without the exhaust affecting the blown diffuser, which was the very powerful thing that the teams used last year. This year that's changed so that's going to be a key area of trying to understand the losses we've had there."
Before testing gets underway in earnest tomorrow, the RB8 will take to the track for a few demonstration laps this afternoon.
Our first pictures of the RB8 can be found, here. More to follow.