Red Bull RB8 launch – first pictures and video of Red Bull’s 2012 F1 car
2012 F1 cars
The Red Bull RB8, the car the team aim to defend their championship titles with, was revealed today in Jerez.
Its predecessors the RB7 and RB6 won two constructors’ championships and took Sebastian Vettel to a pair of drivers’ titles. Red Bull will be hoping the RB8 can make it three in a row.
There is little change at the team which has been the dominant force in F1 for the last two-and-a-half years. Vettel and Mark Webber form the driving line-up, and Adrian Newey remains at the head of the technical team.
Red Bull RB8 pictures
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- Red Bull RB8, 2012
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- Red Bull RB8, 2012
Red Bull RB8 launch video
2012 F1 cars
- New HRT F112 seen for the first time in Spain
- New Marussia MR01 breaks cover at Silverstone
- A closer look at the Caterham CT01
- Mercedes W03 officially revealed in Spain
- Picture: Mercedes W03 spied at Silverstone
- Mercedes W03 spotted testing at Silverstone
- Williams FW34 launch: First pictures of their 2012 F1 car
- Toro Rosso STR7 – first pictures and video of Toro Rosso’s 2012 F1 car
- Red Bull RB8 launch – first pictures and video of Red Bull’s 2012 F1 car
- Sauber C31 launch – first pictures and video of Sauber’s 2012 F1 car
Browse all 2012 F1 cars articles
Image © Red Bull/Getty images
ivz (@ivz) said on 6th February 2012, 13:12
Just saw the video on the Red Bull Racing website………..quite cool…..hard to see though.
ivz (@ivz) said on 6th February 2012, 13:44
I guess Red Bull Racing will never change that colour scheme?
matt90 (@matt90) said on 6th February 2012, 13:52
I think it works quite well, other than the stupid red endplates. At least they already have red in their livery though, unlike Lotus.
Joey-Poey (@joey-poey) said on 6th February 2012, 14:03
I’ve always considered it too busy. I never cared for their livery much.
matt90 (@matt90) said on 6th February 2012, 14:28
I don’t think having to spread ‘Red Bull’ over so many front wing parts helps that impression at the front.
Calum (@calum) said on 6th February 2012, 16:46
I like it, the way it’s busy suits their brand image of being energetic and fun.
Also, I like teams keeping the same brand identity. In years to come we will look back at the chrome cars and the blue ones with yellow noses in various F1 history books and clearly pick out the Mclaren and RedBull, in the same way we look at history books and know a white and red chevron is most likely a Mclaren, and the blue and yellow is a Williams from the 80s and 90s.
Teams that are constantly changing their livery get lost in historic pictures, but those who don’t change build a strong image that sticks in the mind. RedBull are doing that, Mclaren and Ferrari are doing it and Force India are getting into it now with 3 years of Indian Flag livery.
soundscape (@soundscape) said on 7th February 2012, 1:58
Calum: COTD.
Joey-Poey (@joey-poey) said on 7th February 2012, 2:26
@Calum I agree on brand identity and teams building that over time. However, I don’t see it as busy in an energetic way. Rather, it comes across like the side of a car in NASCAR, instead. Text and logos attacking your eyes without leading them around in a way that incorporates good composition and the flow of the lines in the car. Energetic can do that without words and brands slapped on there like a bunch of stickers.
MemroableC said on 6th February 2012, 14:26
I always liked the red endplates on the Renault/lotus whatever it is now.
Fixy (@fixy) said on 6th February 2012, 17:17
I think their livery is getting worse every year.
avegaille (@avegaille) said on 6th February 2012, 23:12
yeah, their livery has too much going on!
McG (@mcg) said on 6th February 2012, 13:13
Not nice.
Theo said on 6th February 2012, 13:51
Quack Quack.
Valentino (@valentino) said on 6th February 2012, 19:46
Owen Wilson likes the RB8.
Kimifan said on 6th February 2012, 14:38
F-ugly……
f1andy83 said on 6th February 2012, 17:08
I agree, my 10 plus years in software engineering tell me McLaren were the only ones that have it right. Seriously though, the McLaren look gorgeous, but again adrian made something horrible look fairly okay. I did expect the snow plow, and a smoother end for the red bull though.
Ross said on 7th February 2012, 3:42
Because software engineering and aerodynamics have so much in common? :S
Jonathan said on 7th February 2012, 8:14
Yes, that’s why Virgin won the last two Constructor’s Championships.
dennis (@dennis) said on 6th February 2012, 13:14
Helmut Marko promised the car wouldn’t be as ugly as the Ferrari… He was right, allthough it seems the McLaren will take the beauty crown this year.
dennis (@dennis) said on 6th February 2012, 13:53
Exhaust seems to be blowing towards the lower element of the rearwing. Front wing looks so complicated it blew my head off after 5 minutes.
The intake in the front seems to be devided by the antenna… I wonder if the intake is split all the way through and possibly brings air to the back of the car through a channel system on each side.
GeeMac (@geemac) said on 6th February 2012, 14:17
The front wing is similar to the RB7′s, it looks like they’ve added an element that is similar to the one that was on the MP4-26 in the second half of last season.
dennis (@dennis) said on 6th February 2012, 14:23
I wondered about that, too. But they had that in Brazil already.
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/redB-vett_inte_2011-21.jpg
(In case we’re both talking about the smaller case ‘r’ element)
raymondu999 (@raymondu999) said on 6th February 2012, 15:52
@GeeMac @dennis I think they tested those since Monza; and raced them first in Singapore? Suzuka?
GeeMac (@geemac) said on 7th February 2012, 14:25
Well spotted @dennis and @raymondu999 , I didn’t even notice that RBR had that “r shaped element” at the end of last season.
Lee1 said on 6th February 2012, 14:26
It looks like it is blowing either straight backwards or slightly downwards which is surely illegal? Ferraris also clearly blows downwards but towards the rear wheels…. Strange as the regs are so clear on this….. (Unless they are both just hiding their intentions)
dennis (@dennis) said on 6th February 2012, 14:29
So far I can’t tell from the pictures if the exhaust is legal or not. I wondered about the Ferrari solution as well, and if they found a loophole.
Lee1 said on 7th February 2012, 9:33
I was wondering if the Ferrari solution is to use the fairing to direct the exhaust downwards while underneath that it actually does point upwards. If so I can see that being banned very quickly….
Franton said on 6th February 2012, 14:04
McLaren have admitted most of the parts including the exhaust were fake. We won’t see the beginnings of what it looks like until tomorrow.
dennis (@dennis) said on 6th February 2012, 14:15
I don’t think they will change the layout of the nose, though as that would mean an entirely new chassis.
I expect the exhaust position to change possibly several times through the season and the wings themselves were already outdated weeks before the presentation.
Franton said on 6th February 2012, 15:06
Would it? The nose and front wing assemblies on all cars are designed for quick replacement during races.
Dphect (@dphect) said on 6th February 2012, 15:50
The actual nose can be changed but I believe the slope cannot too much (it’s part of the chassis), the nose mounts just after the slope.
dennis (@dennis) said on 6th February 2012, 18:02
Exactly. It would make no sense to add a step in case of McLaren, as the chassis itself is so low.
Tifoso1989 (@tifoso1989) said on 6th February 2012, 14:05
Adrian Newey have released a statement to Autosprint (it will be available the day after tomorrow) in which he said that he doesn’t like the shape of the nose but it’s a necessity
dennis (@dennis) said on 6th February 2012, 14:12
Newey always said that he only builds ugly cars when they’re necessary.
Mike (@mike) said on 6th February 2012, 14:24
I think it’s a pity that the Red Bull livery is so grotesque.
soulmonkey said on 6th February 2012, 22:02
What does this mean for the McLaren? It seems like it is the only car w/o the drop in the nose
James (@jamesf1) said on 6th February 2012, 14:26
He was indeed right, it’s uglier still…!
dennis (@dennis) said on 6th February 2012, 14:31
Good for you. :)
http://www.horror-shop.com/out/pictures/generated/product/1/350_600_75/10299.jpg
Mark (@marlarkey) said on 7th February 2012, 0:03
Are McLaren the only ones with a non-ugly car ?
Dizzy-A (@david-a) said on 6th February 2012, 13:14
Not bad for a step nose.
Eggry (@eggry) said on 6th February 2012, 13:31
+1
bearforce1 said on 6th February 2012, 13:42
Agreed. Why does it look a lot better than the other step noses?
Eggry (@eggry) said on 6th February 2012, 13:48
I think the reason is it’s a little tapered and has a lot more detail than others. Look Ferrari’s. It’s just a slope.
Tifoso1989 (@tifoso1989) said on 6th February 2012, 13:57
the RB8 is just an adjustment of the RB7 (which won 12 gp) to the new regulation
Toro Stevo (@toro-stevo) said on 6th February 2012, 13:49
While there might be slight differences in the construction, I think a lot of it is livery and lighting used in the staging shots.
Derek said on 6th February 2012, 14:04
Because it’s a vent. Probably for the Kers batteries. They had cooling problems with that last year.
Younger Hamii (@younger-hamii) said on 6th February 2012, 17:40
@bearforce1 Don’t know about what others think but maybe because the RB8′s retro,metallic colour scheme blends into the design/shape like the E20
afya said on 7th February 2012, 5:32
I think it’s the color. Seems like dark colors fits better with the nose. Sauber, Lotus, RBR ‘s noses look better than Ferrari, Caterham, Force India’s. Caterham is in a green but the leak photo we saw has very bright lighting.
celeste (@celeste) said on 6th February 2012, 18:13
+1
Mike (@mike) said on 6th February 2012, 13:52
I agree, I think if you are able to get over the whole stepped nose thing, I think it looks quite good. I like that it looks like a tight sleek package.
damonsmedley (@damonsmedley) said on 6th February 2012, 14:01
I’d say they have the second worst step-nose so far! Force India, Sauber and Lotus have the best looking step-noses.
A said on 6th February 2012, 15:24
You seriously think the Sauber looks better…I didn’t think it was possible but that Sauber is AS UGLY as the Ferrari…
damonsmedley (@damonsmedley) said on 6th February 2012, 15:59
In your opinion. :P
cjpdk (@cjpdk) said on 7th February 2012, 21:10
Really? I thought the Sauber looked much better than the Ferrari. The black masks the edge
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner) said on 7th February 2012, 9:58
@damonsmedley The Lotus one is my favourite, actually looks like a design feature than a design flaw.
The RB8 I don’t think is too bad.
Jonathan189 (@jonathan189) said on 7th February 2012, 8:20
The three coloured stripes line up with the front end of the nose, so that the step looks more natural.
Deurmat (@deurmat) said on 6th February 2012, 13:14
In the vid it looks like they have an intake where the nose goes up.
watty (@watty) said on 6th February 2012, 13:32
sure does!
topdowntoedown (@topdowntoedown) said on 6th February 2012, 14:19
Definitely a slot there… now, let the speculation begin ;)
My money’s on a blown front wing.
Todfod (@todfod) said on 6th February 2012, 14:29
Don’t know about the blown front wing. I thought that the front wing is the first point of contact on a car anyways so would anyone really need more airflow on the front wing? Hard to say I guess.
My guess would be the intake exits to the sides of the car floor, hence directing the airflow to the diffuser more efficiently.
Maybe I’m just talking cr@p, but now I cannot wait to find out what it really does
topdowntoedown (@topdowntoedown) said on 6th February 2012, 15:26
The system Merc tested used the hole in the front of the nose and blew out under the bottom of the front wing; it reduced drag at high speed (when you don’t need it, apart from in fast corners).
dennis (@dennis) said on 6th February 2012, 14:32
That would be an awkwardly strange position for a BFW.
Jabbah said on 6th February 2012, 14:38
I don’t see the slot. You can see the reflection of the antenna below it so there’s no slot there, and you can see the white of the sealant in a continuous line along the top of the recess and around the base of the antenna.
Nick.UK (@nick-uk) said on 6th February 2012, 16:26
I can’t possible see how it could blow the front wing. You would have to redirect the air back FORWARDS under the wing. How can an air intake behing the front wing itself, blow air over it…
John H (@john-h) said on 6th February 2012, 23:36
Funnily enough @BasCB and I were debating this last week after seeing the Caterham launch:
http://tinyurl.com/73pwpqm
It has to at least in part cool the driver, not sure what the regs say to be honest… anyone know?
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 6th February 2012, 14:13
@Deurmat Pause the first video at 8:25 and you can see it quite clearly.
David BR (@david-br) said on 6th February 2012, 14:26
If you’ve got a bump, might as well make use of it. Ferrari must already be worrying that they’ve missed a trick, McLaren wondering if they’ve called it right but probably more confident.
devon said on 6th February 2012, 14:50
could it be ferrari have something similar blowing onto the wings we saw in the “leaked” pics about a week ago?
MParallel said on 6th February 2012, 23:18
I think RB (Adrien) has found something nice, as usuall. Expect all cars later in the season to have an intake there.
andae23 (@andae23) said on 6th February 2012, 14:52
I guess it’s part of what the sidepods are supposed to do. If you have an air intake at the front, the sidepod intakes can be marginally smaller and thus the car becomes narrower/more compact. Anyway, that’s my thought.
Jabbah said on 6th February 2012, 15:00
There is no slot, its just an effect generated by fading out the lines and the reflection on the paint to the overhang of the top surface. Its just a slight recess for aerodynamic reasons.
Lemon (@lemon) said on 6th February 2012, 15:15
I have to agree, pause the video at 0:45 and there doesn’t seem to be any slot whatsoever..as you can see light reflecting of the body work where the slot would be!
matt90 (@matt90) said on 6th February 2012, 15:28
I paused it then and could see what plainly appears to me to be a slot.
Lemon (@lemon) said on 6th February 2012, 15:52
its hard to say, because it may well just be a shadow created by the overhang…..I suppose time will tell….
matt90 (@matt90) said on 6th February 2012, 16:29
That there is an overhang surely means there is a slot below it. A stepped nose is not very aerodynamic, but having an overhang that forms a hollow makes no sense at all, so it must be a slot.
Lemon (@lemon) said on 6th February 2012, 15:21
*off….or as you mentioned elsewhere it could be the sealant..
Eddie Irvine (@eddie-irvine) said on 6th February 2012, 13:15
there is an air inlet on the step nose !!! f-duct???
Lemon (@lemon) said on 6th February 2012, 13:30
yeh I thought that at first… although i think its just a cylindrical bulk, which may go some way to help reduce the turbulent air that the step creates….
melthom said on 6th February 2012, 13:45
fly catcher maybe
Eggry (@eggry) said on 6th February 2012, 13:50
it can’t be of course.
dennis (@dennis) said on 6th February 2012, 14:16
This.
However I wonder if it might be something along the lines of Mercedes’ front wing. With a tunnel system channeling the air to a different place.
Mike (@mike) said on 6th February 2012, 14:26
Why not?
Apparently the idea of a passive F-Duct is quite popular.
Eggry (@eggry) said on 6th February 2012, 21:18
I meant active one, sorry.
Sempai (@sempai) said on 6th February 2012, 21:47
The whole idea of the “F” duct, I believe originated with McLaren’s major sponsor at the time, Vodafone.
The vent or duct happened to coincide with the position of the “f” in the Vodafone livery, hence the name f-duct.
Is / was, this so and what are the latest 2012 regulations relating to the duct?
KeeleyObsessed (@keeleyobsessed) said on 6th March 2012, 23:48
@Sempai Unfortunately that’s a load of codswallop.. F-Ducts have been around (in principle, at least) for a while I’m led to believe…
tkcom (@tkcom) said on 6th February 2012, 22:34
*F-duck
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65) said on 6th February 2012, 13:15
I just saw a close shot from the nose bulk. it looks rather interesting!
Other than that, it’s just another Red Bull… by the looks of it, at least. I wonder what Newey put under it…!
damonsmedley (@damonsmedley) said on 6th February 2012, 14:08
Yes. The livery is getting very tired (it’s very uninteresting in my opinion) and the red endplates make it look awful. Not as bad as the red Sky bargeboards we’ve seen in Brazil for the last few years, though.
And I actually can’t notice much difference to last year’s car in terms of design! The nose is stepped (obviously), but what else has changed? Not much by the looks of it.
dennis (@dennis) said on 6th February 2012, 14:20
@damonsmedley
The question is what are they supposed to change. The exhaust position will determine how the sidepods eventually will look. But with the rear end being supposed to be as tiny as possible there’s little room for huge changes.
The livery is alright, but nothing exciting. I agree that they might wanna try something new already, but rather this, then an actual Red Bull can design.
damonsmedley (@damonsmedley) said on 6th February 2012, 16:01
I just think it would be nice if they repositioned everything. It needs redoing, and if they’re the team colours, they shouldn’t have to change them, but maybe make the bull a bit bigger and have him covering more of the car, and then adjust the positioning of the other patterns. It could do with updating in my opinion.
weebtt said on 6th February 2012, 13:15
why is mclaren’s nose odd looking?
Arhn (@arhn) said on 6th February 2012, 13:18
That’s ugly… But not as ugly as the Ferrari nose.
Is it me or Webber’s helmet seems quite small on the picture ? Pretty low too…
McLaren23 said on 6th February 2012, 22:07
Lol its just a picture
McGregski (@mcgregski) said on 6th February 2012, 13:19
This isn’t a reveal… it’s a tease! How are we supposed to see anything in that, their nose solution is interesting… I can’t wait until testing to see these properly
Do we know if there are any online video feeds from the testing this year?
matt90 (@matt90) said on 6th February 2012, 13:19
Intriguing nose/bulkhead opening.
dutch in sweden (@dutch-in-sweden) said on 6th February 2012, 13:19
Wonder what Newey did with that step nose. This is new, nothing like what we have seen. Wonder what Mclaren is thinking right now, the odd one out or just very clever.
Boomerang said on 6th February 2012, 14:42
Mr. Newey was thinking about optimising the flow towards the airbox, because the nose shape plays a significant role in feeding the air to the engine. Obviously he is trying to utilise the nose slope to achieve good flow further towards the engine air intake…
McG (@mcg) said on 6th February 2012, 13:21
At least it looks like the bump on the nose is functional. looks like there is a small slit. Best looking bump nose so far.
Funkyf1 (@funkyf1) said on 6th February 2012, 13:21
Newey Flash!!! You are not copying me this year.
Tom (@tomforpresident) said on 6th February 2012, 13:21
if it aint broke… punch it in the nose!
sparkus88 said on 6th February 2012, 13:48
lol funniest thing i’ve read in ages