Red Bull Racing’s RB16 has broken cover for the first time, the car with which the team hopes it will end Mercedes’ dominance in Formula 1.
Red Bull claimed four successive titles through the early 2010s but has failed to mount a sustained championship challenge in the sport’s hybrid era.
It has finished in third position for the last three years.
The squad nonetheless made gains through 2019 after linking up with Honda, ending its 12-year Renault alliance, claiming three wins and two poles, all courtesy of Max Verstappen.
Verstappen, third to the Mercedes pair in the Drivers’ Championship, pledged his future to the team in the winter by signing a refreshed contract through 2023.
Red Bull’s prospects have also been boosted by Honda confirming it will continue to act as its engine partner, and also supply AlphaTauri, into 2021.
Red Bull also signed an extension with fuel and lubricants supplier ExxonMobil.
Verstappen will be partnered by Alexander Albon, whose performances through the second half of the season at Red Bull – having stepped up from Toro Rosso – earned him an extension for 2020.
Red Bull’s RB16 is due to be run for the first time at Silverstone later today (Wednesday), with Verstappen behind the wheel.
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