Sergio Perez believes Red Bull’s 2021 Formula 1 car, the RB16B, has “a lot of potential” following its on-track debut at Silverstone on Wednesday.
Both Perez and team-mate Max Verstappen were present at the track as part of a filming day, as was Alexander Albon, the squad’s reserve driver for this season.
All three drivers drove the 2019 RB15 car to pick up promotional footage, while Perez and Verstappen got to sample their RB16B challenger for the first time.
FIA regulations stipulate that running current-spec cars outside official sessions is limited to two filming days per year with no more than 100km of mileage at each event.
Red Bull’s first filming day with the RB16B is believed to have been completed without any complications, with Perez being the first to take the car out around the National Circuit layout of the Northamptonshire track.
“Driving a new car is always special – for the driver and also for the team,” Perez said.
“They have been working so hard through the winter, so to finally take the car on track, it’s quite an emotional day.
“I can say I think there is a lot of potential. The conditions were not great but it was nice to get a feeling for the car. It’s pretty exciting. Earlier this week I drove the RB15 but today I could feel a step in overall grip and top speed.”
Red Bull enters the new season hopeful of fighting for the World Championship and halting Mercedes’ dominant run that has existed since 2014.
The team will also embark on its final year in partnership with Honda, who will depart F1 at the end of 2021 – however Red Bull will continue to use the Japanese manufacturer’s Power Unit, after all teams agreed to freeze engine development from 2022.
Perez and Verstappen will drive the RB16B again at the Bahrain International Circuit next month during the three days of pre-season testing, before the same venue commences the new season on March 28.
