Silverstone (dpa) - After Sebastian Vettel, world championship challenger Max Verstappen also presented his new Formula 1 company car. The 22-year-old Dutchman did the first laps in the Red Bull RB16 at Silverstone in the UK.
In the new season, Verstappen drives alongside the Thai Alexander Albon and is considered one of the strongest rivals of defending champion Lewis Hamilton. The Ferrari team around Hessen Vettel had already presented its new car, the SF1000, the previous day.
Formula 1 test drives for the new season begin on February 19 in Barcelona. The first race will take place in Melbourne on March 15th. Verstappen had won three races last year and finished third behind Hamilton and his Mercedes colleague Valtteri Bottas. At the beginning of the year Verstappen had extended his contract with Red Bull until the end of 2023.
His new racing car is particularly noticeable with a very different front section. Even more technical changes are possible before the start of the season.
Renault's competition opened its season without a finished car. The pilots Daniel Ricciardo and newcomer Esteban Ocon, who replaced the German Nico Hülkenberg, initially only showed the new livery at the Champs-Elysees in Paris. The finished car will only be seen during the tests.
Information about the new Red Bull
Information about the new Renault
