Milton Keynes (dpa) – Max Verstappen came to the appointment in the clip with the old racing car and turned a few smoking tops in front of the Red Bull plant in Milton Keynes for the first time.
59 days after his spectacular World Championship triumph in Abu Dhabi, the 24-year-old Dutchman’s new racing car for the mission of defending his title in the coming season was presented. In the classic Red Bull dark blue, with a yellow nose and the Red Bull – but above all with a completely new design due to the extensive rule changes for the 2022 season.
“I’m just looking forward to sitting in the car and driving again,” said Verstappen, well rested and recovered after the winter days off: “I feel good, but a lot is unknown about the new car. That’s why I’m curious how the new car drives.” But he doesn’t feel any more pressure as a world champion.
“We now have the number one on the car. Now it’s about defending the number,” stressed team manager Christian Horner. The personal number 33 lets Verstappen rest, unlike the title holder predecessor and record world champion Lewis Hamilton, Verstappen makes use of the champion’s right to number one.
What will be noticeable with all cars was no exception at Red Bull. Especially since design guru Adrian Newey undoubtedly did not want to reveal the various resourceful peculiarities of the model that has now been presented. In order to make overtaking easier, the so-called dirty air behind the cars is to be reduced this year. As? Among other things, due to significantly fewer wings on the sides that produce turbulence. In addition, the front and rear wings – these recently curved – are designed to be much simpler.
“The car is clearer overall,” emphasized Horner. However, he was already committed: At the first race on March 20th in Bahrain, the RB18 of Verstappen and his Mexican teammate Sergio Perez will not look like it did at the presentation. “The first is a prototype. The car will probably not be the same in any race,” said Horner, prophesying a development race from the first to the last Grand Prix of this year’s record season of 23 races.
“We’ll need a bit of time to get used to the car,” said Verstappen. “It’s not like usual, you just jump in like that.” Due to the larger tires, he already fears greater visibility difficulties when hitting the apex in the curves.
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Hamilton’s Mercedes will be unveiled on February 18
Verstappen can really practice with his new RB18 from February 23rd to 25th in the so-called pre-tests on the Grand Prix circuit near Barcelona. From March 10th to 12th there will be the last opportunity to set the cars up for the season opener at the same place during the official test drives in the Sakhir desert.
Verstappen did not lose words about his worst rival Lewis Hamilton during the vehicle presentation. He had snatched the eighth World Championship triumph from the now 37-year-old Brit on December 12 last year in a final that was as gripping as it was controversial at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, and thus the sole title record ahead of Michael Schumacher .
The seven-time world champion will only present his new Mercedes on February 18th. The new Aston Martin of German four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel will follow this Thursday.