The new Red Bull car for the 2010 Formula One season was unveiled by Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber in Jerez on Wednesday ahead of pre-season testing by both drivers at the Spanish circuit.
The Austrian-owned team hopes that the Adrian Newey-designed RB6 car can go one better than the second-place finish achieved by Germany’s Vettel in last year’s world championship.
“I have a clear objective and that is to become world champion,” said Vettel in Jerez. “I didn’t have to think long about this because I knew it last year.”
Webber was the first to take to the track in the new Renault-powered Red Bull with Vettel only getting behind the wheel on Friday.
“It should run well,” said Australian Webber before his first test-drive in the RB6, which has a detailed front wing and a ‘shark- fin’ engine cover similar to those that have appeared on a number of other cars.
Evolution
Technical director Newey described the changes as “an evolution” of last year’s car.
Red Bull finished last season strongly, with Vettel and Webber winning the final three races of 2009. However, Ferrari have set the pace so far in pre-season testing with Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso fastest last week in Valencia.
“I hope were are as strong as 2009 or even better,” said Vettel.
“Ferrari and McLaren look good, as does Mercedes with Michael Schumacher.”
The 2010 F1 season begins March 14 with the Bahrain Grand Prix in Sakhir. — Sapa-dpa